USOC: Mascot makeover

MASCOT Lauren Linten's winning Olympic design

Olympic mascot gets a Pompey makeover 

By Aline Nassif

Published on Tuesday 6 December 2011 07:58
 

OLYMPIC mascot Mandeville has had a Pompey makeover – thanks to a schoolgirl who came up with a winning design for an official 2012 Games badge.

Lauren Linter, a pupil at Springfield School in Drayton, Portsmouth, is the proud creator of the mascot pin badge for the whole of the south east region, which is now on sale for £5.

The 13-year-old beat competition from thousands of applications to design a regional ‘skin’ for Mandeville, the London Paralympic mascot. The design had to represent the place the artist lives or goes to school.

Her bright idea was to transform Mandeville into a proud Pompey local covered in well-known city landmarks including the seafront war memorial, the Spinnaker Tower and Henry VIII’s Southsea castle.

Lauren said: ‘I’m really excited to see my mascot design made into a pin badge, and I’m really proud to have won this competition and to see my design representing our part of the country for such an amazing event.

‘I based my design on many famous places in Portsmouth and Southsea. I designed it this way so it would stand out against the other cities and show off some of the things that make Portsmouth great.

‘My design is colourful and shows a bright seaside city and how much I like it here.

‘I also included the sun to match Portsmouth’s motto “Heaven’s Light Our Guide”.’

The ‘Get Set to make your mascot’ competition was run through the London 2012 Education Programme ‘Get Set’ and was open to schoolchildren and college students.

Lauren, who was presented with her prize by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Cheryl Buggy, is looking forward to studying art and graphics at GCSE level.

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Lauren’s design is a fantastic representation of our wonderful city and we’re all really proud to see Portsmouth as part of this snapshot of British life.’

The badge will be available from John Lewis stores around the country and online from johnlewis.com.