Supporting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
As one of UK’s leading financial organisations, we’ve been helping our customers prepare for the future since 1815. Now, as preparations for the London 2012 Games get underway, we’re proud to be lending our support as the Official Pensions and Investment Provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In the run up to the London 2012 Games, we’ll have the opportunity to involve all our customers and the community in the unique excitement surrounding the Games.
Sport facts
please hover over a sport below:
Badminton
Li Huifeng (China) juggled a shuttlecock for 4 hours 40 min non-stop using only her feet, without the shuttlecock ever touching the ground.
Tennis
The winner of the Athens 1896 Olympic Games tennis competition was John Boland, who had travelled there as a spectator. He later became a Member of Parliament.
Fencing
Gold medal foilist Vladimir Smirnov died after a blade pierced his mask during the 1982 World Cup Championships. Following the subsequent strengthening of protection, fencing is now statistically safer than golf.
Volleyball
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan. The game was originally called ‘Mintonette’
Table Tennis
AKA Gossima, Whiff-Whaff, Flim-Flam & Ping-Pong, Table Tennis was originally played with cigar-box lids for rackets and a carved champagne cork for a ball.
Aquatics
Aquatic events no longer in the Olympic Games include underwater swimming, 200m obstacle swimming and plunge for distance.
Wrestling
The world's oldest competitive sport, wrestling was already an ancient game when it was included in the first Olympic games in 776 BC.
Cycling
BMX cycling will be included for the first time in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
As part of the Lloyds Banking Group, Scottish Widows is proud to be an Official Provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
