Birthplace of modern Olympics holds Wenlock Olympic Games скачать в хорошем качестве

Birthplace of modern Olympics holds Wenlock Olympic Games

(8 Jul 2012) While much of the world is focusing on the London 2012 Olympics, runners and spectators descended on the English town of Much Wenlock on Sunday for their own version of the sporting event. The Wenlock Olympian Games, which were first held in 1850, helped lay the foundations for the modern day international Olympic Games. Town doctor Dr. William Penny Brookes founded the event to help encourage physical activity. His work eventually caught the eye of Baron Pierre de Coubertin who went on to form the International Olympic Committee. "The Wenlock Olympian Games and the society are the DNA of the modern Olympic Games," said historian Helen Cromarty. "When Baron Coubertin came to Much Wenlock to look at our Games and to discuss education with Brookes, he left not just with ideas about education, but the blueprint for a modern Olympic Games," she added. One of the mascots for the London 2012 Games, "Wenlock," takes its name from Brookes' Olympian Games in Wenlock, in the English county of Shropshire. Jonathan Edwards, a former Great Britain Olympic winner and now president of the Wenlock Olympian Society, attended the126th event on Sunday. "This should be part of British history," said Edwards. "The Olympics is the biggest event in the world, it's probably the most well known brand. Everybody knows the five rings, they'll watch the Olympic Games, the opening ceremony perhaps the most watched TV moment anywhere around the world and yet the British link, the Shropshire link is unknown," he added. While the ideas that under pin both Wenlock and London's Olympic competitions might be similar, some of the sports differ. The Wenlock event includes the likes of gliding and netball. However, festivities began on Sunday with a much more traditional Olympic sport - the long distance marathon. "There's a few people who know the story of Baron Pierre de Coubertin who came here, but not many. So It's great to have an event like this so close to the Olympics which really gives it a bit more kudos," said runner Alan Williams. The Wenlock Olympian Games will run until 22 July. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...