TALK ABOUT LEGACY: London Olympics fans keen to own a part of the Games are snapping up souvenirs ranging from competition equipment to Mary Poppins outfits worn in the opening ceremony.
The 2012 Games were meant to be all about sustainability and organisers hope to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds by recycling historic memorabilia in the online auction.
One of the priciest artefacts so far from the London Games is for the Olympic torch signed by gold medal-winning British cyclist Bradley Wiggins, which went to a bidder who paid a cool £13,000 (€16,500). Official athletics results sheets have sold for £4,030 and the basketball used in the men’s gold medal final between the US ‘Dream Team’ and Spain went for £3,755.
Bargains at the other end of the scale start with the Angolan opening ceremony placard, which was on offer today with several hours still on the clock for just £80. Some of the items attracting the most bids were flags used in the opening ceremony, with the US Stars and Stripes securing a top bid of £3,735, followed by Canada on £1,315 and Bermuda on £716.
A javelin used in the Games drew offers of £2,010 while a six-foot model of London 2012 mascot Wenlock dressed as fictional detective Sherlock Holmes drew an offer of £4,040. Items from Hollywood director Danny Boyle’s quirky opening ceremony featuring elements of British history and culture are also on offer.
Bids for a costume worn by one of the performers playing magical nanny Mary Poppins start at £855 and a black Mary Poppins handbag costs £541. A man’s peasant outfit is a snip at £230.
The most expensive items on offer however are from an altogether older vintage.
A bronze medal from the 1904 Games in St Louis has attracted bids of £20,000 with 18 days still to go. An Olympic torch from the last London Games in 1948 has attracted bids of £14,000.
All the profits from the auction will be distributed to British sporting bodies, according to London 2012 organisers LOCOG.
The legacy of the Games was a key part of London’s winning bid to stage the Olympics, both in terms of infrastructure, urban regeneration and boosting sport for young people.
