The newest edition to Team GB’s Olympic squad has finally been given a name. The official Team GB mascot has been given the name PRIDE and will accompany the Olympic athletes on their way to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in search of Olympic glory this summer. Team GB fans were given the opportunity to name the official mascot after the British Olympic Association (BOA) ran a competition on kids TV Channel, Nickelodeon. After sifting through over 3,500 entries the BOA decided on Pride as the winning name. Nine year old, Lilly Sykes from Lincolnshire gave the best reason for calling the lion Pride (below) and now wins the trip of a lifetime to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

‘A family of lions is called a pride and it reflects how proud we should be of our country and all our Team GB athletes as they compete with determination and courage at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games this summer.’ As an official member of Team GB the mascot will no doubt be popping up everywhere in China from the athlete’s accommodation to the sailing arena in Qingdao and equestrian venues in Hong Kong. In addition each athlete will be given their very own 15” Pride as a memento of their selection for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games team.