From unhealthy kebabs mighty athletes grow

By Josh Burrows and Matt Sherry, Sportsbeat

THE Ancient Olympics were, according to legend, founded by Hercules in the 8th century BC to honour his father, Zeus.

HANDSHAKE: Josh Burrows and Matt Sherry seal their Olympic ambition - with a kebab

In 1894, French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin resurrected the games on a summer's day in Lausanne, Switzerland.

And only four years ago London's successful bid for the 2012 Games was secured when bright-eyed London schoolchildren met IOC members at a high-profile meeting in Singapore.

Our journey began with a handshake in Mr Ahmet's Olympic Kebab house after a few too many pints in the Prince of Wales.

The idea is simple. There are 26 Olympic disciplines (each of the 300 events falls into one of the 26 categories) and we will compete against each other in every one of the 26 in time for the opening ceremony of the London Games on July 27, 2012.

The 1000-day countdown begins this Saturday.

Along the way we will meet with different mentors, some of them Olympic champions, some Olympic hopefuls. This will doubtless be more exciting for us than it will be for them as we are an unlikely pair to be taking on such a challenge.

Neither of us is a Hercules, neither of us will be competing at London 2012, and this is not about honouring the Gods or exchanging pleasantries. It's about learning the difference between being an unfit joker and an Olympian.

It's also about raising money and we will announce an affiliation with one (or possibly two) charities in the coming weeks.

So Mr Ahmet, if you're reading, know this: It was your fine kebab house where we swapped our onion rings for the Olympic rings.

Follow Matt and Josh's challenge here.

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