The Italian company will create a collectable London 2012 sticker collection featuring Olympic and Paralympic legends and hopefuls from all over the world, which will go on sale in the spring of 2012.

They also plan to launch a collectable trading card game featuring successful athletes of the past, present and future for both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Panini will also publish a range of sticker sheets including stickers of the London 2012 mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville between now and 2012.
 
Panini was founded in 1961, coming to prominence in the UK in 1978 with Football ’78.

Since then, Panini has published a diverse range of sticker collections, from football collections, to pop, to TV series and toy brands, including the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which finished earlier this month.
 
Charlie Wijeratna, the London 2012 director of commercial negotiations, said: "Panini sticker collections are a staple of playgrounds - and offices - across the country around major sporting events and London 2012 will be no different.

"Of course there is great fun to be had collecting and swapping stickers, but this is also an amazing opportunity for young people to find out more about Olympic and Paralympic history, sports and the athletes themselves.

"We’re thrilled to be working with Panini on this."

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