Nine-year-old wins competition to design coin for London Olympics

A new 50 pence coin to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, designed by nine-year-old Florence Jackson from Bristol, England, will be officially launched this week.

Florence beat more than 17,000 entries to win the contest, which was sponsored by a long-running BBC children’s television program.  She’s the first child ever to design a UK coin.

After winning the competition, Florence said: “I am so excited. It was a real surprise to win.

“I’d never entered a Blue Peter competition before, but really wanted to take part because I love drawing.”

The coin depicts a high-jumper, a subject Florence choice because she  thought it looked fun.

This year marks 40 years since the introduction of the 50 pence piece - the UK’s most distinctive circulation coin.

In April, double Olympic gold medalist Becky Adlington helped unveil a special collectors coin to mark the countdown to the London Games.

UPDATE: Sometimes even the simplest stories become mired in controversy.  Turns out Florence’s father is a (soon-to-be) executive of the TV network that aired the contest. Wonder if that will affect the outcome of the coin competition? We hope for Florence’s sake, that it doesn’t.

Sister, Sister

Everybody needs a sister– at least if the results of a new study from the University of Ulster in Ireland hold true. Researchers at the school recently asked 571 people ages 17 to 25 about their lives and discovered that the ones who grew up with sisters tend to be happier and more balanced, according to the BBC .

‘Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families,’ said professor and head researcher Tony Cassidy. ‘However, brothers seemed to have the alternative effect.’

The University study said having daughters made a family more open and willing to discuss feelings.

They said the influence of girls was particularly important after distressing family events.

Not everyone is buying it, though. One reader told BBC, ‘I have a sister and am neither happy nor balanced.’

What do you think? Sisters before bros?