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The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has
announced that an Olympic Handover Flag will be raised at Clacton
Leisure Centre to celebrate the moment when London becomes the
official Olympic Games Host City.
A first in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the
iconic London Olympic Handover Flag will be raised in Clacton on
August 24, 2008 simultaneously with regions around the UK.
Accompanying the flag raising event will also be a host of free
activities such as free swimming at
Clacton Leisure Centre,
Dovercourt Swimming Pool,
Frinton and Walton Swimming Pool and
Manningtree Sports Centre - which are all run by the
Council.
The Council will also be offering free racket sports - such as
tennis, badminton, table tennis and squash - where facilities are
available.
The free activities at the TDC sites will be available from 12
noon until the facility closes to the public, with the exception of
Manningtree Sports Centre where the hours will be 2pm to 4pm.
The Olympic Handover Flag in Clacton will be one of over 500
flags delivered to locations including HM Armed Forces, embassies
around the world, City Halls, British Council offices and Foreign
and Commonwealth offices.
Pierre Oxley, Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services at Tendring
District Council, said the handover signified the start of the
build-up for the Olympics in 2012.
"London 2012 is something the whole country is looking forward
to and watching the Beijing Olympics is really whetting my appetite
for four years time over here," he said.
"I am delighted that we are able to offer free facilities on the
day of the handover of the flag and I hope our residents of all
ages will take up this opportunity."
Cllr Oxley will be raising the Olympic Flag at a flagpole at the
Clacton Leisure Centre at 2.30pm on August 24.
Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Sebastian Coe
said: 'When the Mayor of London accepts the Olympic Flag on August
24, the eyes of the world will turn to London and the UK as the
next Summer Host City.
"It is a very important and exciting moment for us, and we want
as many people as possible to join in the Handover
celebrations.
"We are delighted that so many local authorities share our
excitement and are proudly displaying the Olympic Handover Flag to
mark this very special moment on our journey to
2012." |