The Little Book of Olympic Spirit contains more than 185 quotes from athletes and officials, all on the subject of the four-yearly festival of sporting excellence that is the Olympic Games. In just a few words, they bring to life the joy of competition, the ecstasy of victory, the misery of defeat and the love of Olympic competition in general. The thoughts and opinions of some of the world's greatest competitors, such as the samples below, make this a very special little book. As Mark Spitz famously said, If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail.

The London 2012 Games will generate a lot of interest in present and past Olympians and the quotes in The Little Book of Olympic Spirit will provide motivation not just for athletes but anyone aiming for a goal.

Remember these six minutes for the rest of your lives. Listen to the crowd and take it all in. This is the stuff of dreams.

Steve Redgrave

Winning is not the aim, only a part of the whole.

Carl Lewis