MINI, Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is keeping the Games moving with a range of fully electric vehicles as part of the fleet. 40 MINI E’s are being used for many duties including shuttling athletes and officials within the Olympic Park and surrounding Games sites. They also helped support elements of the Olympic Torch Relay convoy on its journey around the UK and will do so similarly for the Paralympic Torch Relay.

Today, MINI is proud to introduce another critical electric vehicle to the Olympic and Paralympic fleet: the Mini MINI. This specially developed and designed radio controlled electric car will be used on the field of play in the Olympic Stadium to ferry javelins, discuses, hammers and shots back from the field to the throwing area, saving valuable time during competition.

We are tempted to take this with a pinch of salt and maybe its like an April Fools trick but it is certainly a brilliant idea. Be interesting to see how it performs when transporting a heavy discus across the lush grass of the Olympic stadium. But wouldn't you just love a Mini MINI of your own to play with

Three Mini MINIs will be deployed for this crucial task and will be operated by Games Makers assigned and trained for this duty. The cars are roughly a quarter scale of the full-sized car and carry the athletic equipment situated inside, accessible through the adapted sunroof. The Mini MINIs are all blue and feature the same Games livery as the ‘full-size’ official fleet vehicles.

“The MINI team was thrilled to be given this challenge to develop a vehicle with such an important and high profile role during the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” commented Dr Juergen Hedrich, Managing Director of MINI Plant Oxford. “I know that everybody was inspired by the challenge and the knowledge that these models will be seen in action by millions of people around the world.”

The cars were designed and built to a specification agreed with LOCOG to ensure their role on the field of play is successful in saving time during competition. Each of the three Mini MINIs will cover around 6,000 metres per day in four-hour shifts across nine days of Olympic and nine days of Paralympic competition. The Mini MINIs will:

Carry a load of up to 8kg; a single hammer, discus or shot or two javelins.

Be operated with a simple control system requiring minimum technical support.

Be powered by batteries that can sustain 35 minutes of continuous usage with a radio control range of approximately 100 metres and be fully re-charged in 80 minutes.

After the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games, the three Mini MINIs will return to base for well-earned rest and relaxation before their next athletic adventure.

Scroll Down for some fantastic images

MINI E

Number in fleet: 40, 204hp / Zero tailpipe emissions,Usage includes: Venue pool cars for operational usage and supporting the Olympic Torch Relay.

Mini MINI

Number in fleet: 3

10hp / Zero emissions

Usage: Field of play vehicle to retrieve javelins, discuses, hammers and shot from the field to the throwing area.

MINI Hatch design in 1/4 scale

Lightweight composite bodyshell (Vehicle weight 25kg)

True Blue paintwork with orange London 2012 Games livery and white roof

Detailed exterior design including door handles, mirrors, wheel arch finishers, number plates, windscreen wipers and functioning headlights

Removable sunroof panel for access to the equipment storage area

Waterproof equipment storage area

Electric engine, throttled