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County events mark Olympic handover

28 August 2008

In High Peak, a ceremony was held at High Peak Borough Council’s Chinley office, where local swimmer and Olympic hopeful Russell Smith was on hand to hoist the flag.

Joining him was Councillor Andrew Bingham, Executive Councillor for Community and Social Development.

He said: "We are delighted to be able to take part in this historic event. During the run-up to 2012, the Council will be exploring ways of promoting sport and healthier living to ensure that the legacy of the London Olympic Games will be long lasting.

"The next four years will attract a lot of opportunity nationally and we will be exploring ways for High Peak residents and businesses to benefit from the prosperity."

Meanwhile in Derby, the city’s Mayor, Councillor Barbara Jackson, was joined by Derbyshire-born Olympic marathon runner Arthur Keily to raise the Olympic flag above the Assembly Rooms.

The flag raising was part of the free One Big Place event, which also included music and dance and a live link up via the Big Screen to London for the raising of the Olympic flag.

In Erewash, a one-day Canal Festival held on the Sunday also included a flag raising ceremony.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “It was an outstanding day and we are delighted that so many people visited the Festival.

“The raising of the Olympic Flag was just one of the highlights - the moment when the crowds gathered and cheered as it was raised sums up the real ‘feelgood factor’ of what was a memorable event.”

The Council has received two special Olympic flags from the London 2012 organisers and will fly them above the borough’s two town halls, in Long Eaton and Ilkeston.

In the Derbyshire Dales, local sports stars Daisy Brooks, Jack Clay and John Davey (pictured) joined Mike Longden, Vice Chairman of the Community and Environment Committee, to raise an Olympic Handover Flag at Derbyshire Dales District Council’s offices at the Town Hall in Matlock.

And in Amber Valley, a flag was also raised at the Town Hall in Ripley, watched by local 2012 Olympic archery prospect Sarah Smith, who has recently returned from spending a week at the Beijing games after being selected as part of ‘Britain’s Olympic Ambition 2012’ Programme.

Councillor Norman Bull, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing at Amber Valley Borough Council, was also there along with council staff and volunteers and Entry to Employment (E2E) learners from the Council’s Sports Development programmes.

A first in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the iconic London Olympic Handover Flag was raised simultaneously at more than 500 locations including HM Armed Forces, embassies around the world, City Halls, British Council Offices and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices.