Release Date: 19/08/2008
Richmond upon Thames is set to welcome the Olympic Games in London the moment the capital becomes the official Olympic Games Host City on Sunday 24 August.
Joining simultaneous celebrations across the country, Mayor Lee-Parsons will raise Richmond upon Thames’ Olympic Handover Flag on Richmond Riverside at 2.30pm sharp.
At the same time, the 2008 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony in China will conclude the Beijing Games, with the Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong handing the Olympic flag over to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Richmond upon Thames’ Olympic Handover Flag will be raised on the Jubilant, opposite the Old Town Hall, and will also promote Richmond Upon Thames’ Cultural Olympiad, designed to celebrate cultural activities in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.
The borough’s celebration will be one of the many events organised across the capital, with the Handover Flag being one of the over 500 flags delivered to locations including HM Armed Forces, embassies around the world, City Halls, British Council offices and Foreign and Commonwealth offices.
Cllr Liz Jaeger, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure, said:
“We are proud to join our flag to those across the country being raised to welcome the Olympic Games in London.
“The Games represent a great opportunity.
“We are already working with the local community to improve cultural, sporting, volunteering and employment possibilities for all residents in the run up to 2012 and create a legacy that will go beyond the Games.”
The official handover for the Paralympic Games will follow on Wednesday 17 September. Richmond upon Thames’ Handover celebration will showcase a performance by internationally recognised dance duo Girl Jonah, whose Artistic Director Caroline Bowditch carried the Olympic torch in Sydney in 2004.
For further information on the Olympic Handover event in Richmond upon Thames on Sunday 24 please contact Rachel Tranter, Head of Arts at Richmond Council, on 020 8831 6000.