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People across Kent will be celebrating in style when the
Beijing Games hands the Olympic flag to London.
August 24 2008 marks a major event in the run-up to the 2012
Games and Kent is one of the most active counties for its planned
celebrations.
The Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games, made up of a range of
organisations and led and managed by Kent County Council has been
coordinating how local people can join in the celebrations with
street parties, fireworks and special events planned across the
county to mark the handover.
Each district will be raising an official London 2012 flag on
the day and potential and past Olympians will be on hand to help
raise the flags. The events will include:
Dover
Historically Dover welcomed the Olympic torch when it arrived
for the 1948 Olympic Games, the last time London hosted the
Olympics.
From 12noon till 9pm, people in Dover can enjoy a street party
with fireworks, dancing and stilt walkers with potential 2012 rower
Hannah Moon raising the official 2012 flag after bringing it by
boat into the town.
Ramsgate
The Handover Day is tied in with the opening of the new
athletics track at the Marlowe Academy - the only international
standard track in the area and has been selected as a possible
pre-Games training camp for visiting teams. There will be a family
fun run at 11:40am and there will be athletics demonstrations from
national standard athletes as part of the day.
Herne Bay
Celebrations will be part of the Herne Bay festival which this
year is themed around the Olympics. Herne Bay has also been
selected as a 'live site' for one of the BBC's 16 national screens
to show the handover ceremony and will include Kent footage and
films during the day. Bronze Olympic medallist Ian Wynne will also
be taking part and helping to raise the flag. Activities will
include an assault course, Tour de'Herne Bay (family cycle ride),
Herne Bay's Got Talent and workshops for all ages including belly
dancing and yoga and performances from local groups.
Maidstone
A festival of arts, culture and sports. Demonstrations from
local sports clubs and come and try sessions. There will also be
live bands and parades and the delivery of the flag by river.
Winter 2012 hopeful Kevin Alderton will also be taking part.
Tunbridge Wells
Their celebrations are taking place on August 29 as it ties in
with the annual Summer Slam activities for children organised in
association with Charlton Athletic. Activities to try including
football, basketball, circus skills, face painting and climbing
wall.
Ashford
Nick Boylan, Great Britain Swimming Captain for people with
learning disabilities, will help raise the handover flag. The
Active
Ashford website (link opens in a new window) will also be
launched.
Free swimming for a day
Also on August 24, free swimming will be on offer to all ages,
at facilities which are part of the Kent Alliance of Leisure Trusts
and managed by the district councils, in Canterbury, Sevenoaks,
Gravesham, Thanet, Ashford, Dover and Tunbridge Wells. Visitors
will be able to drop-in to their nearest pool and enjoy swimming
and find out about other sports on offer in their area.
KCC Cabinet Member for Community Services
Mike Hill said: "The recent spectacular opening ceremony for
the Beijing Games really heightened the excitement for London's
Olympics and the Handover Day is an excellent way for us in Kent to
celebrate and enjoy the atmosphere of being in the host country.
There really is something for everyone on August 24 and highlights
how the Olympics are an opportunity to feel proud of what we have
to show the world."
Free swimming from Kent Leisure Trusts will be available at the
following participating facilities:
Canterbury
- Canterbury - Active Life
- Herons Swimming Pool
- Whitstable Swimming Pool
- Kingsmead Leisure Centre
Sevenoaks
- Sevenoaks - Sencio Community Leisure
- Edenbridge Leisure Centre
- Sevenoaks Leisure Centre
- White Oak Leisure Centre
Gravesham
- Gravesham - Gravesham Community Leisure
- Cascades Leisure Centre
- Cygnet Leisure Centre
Thanet
- Thanet - Thanet Leisure Force
- Ramsgate Swimming Centre
- Hartsdown Leisure Centre
Ashford
- Ashford - Ashford Leisure Trust
- The Stour Centre
Dover
- Dover - Vista Leisure
- Tides Leisure Centre
- Dover Leisure Centre
Tunbridge Wells
- Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre
- Weald Sports Centre
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