Olympic Handover Celebrations

Following the success of Team GB at the Beijing Olympics, why not join in the local handover celebrations when Olympic Handover Flags will be raised at Dover Seafront and Deal Pier to celebrate the handover from Beijing to London on Sunday (24 August).

A massive street party for the whole family is being held on Dover Seafront from 12 noon on Sunday, leading up to a giant firework display from the Prince of Wales Pier at 8.12pm ¹. The event will feature a range of free activities and entertainment, including live music, street entertainers, stalls and attractions. There will be a special 'street athletics' event from 1pm and a Battle of the Bands competition from 6pm.

This special event for the local area is being organized by Dover District Council, in close cooperation with Dover Town Council, with the support of the Port of Dover. Celebrations also tie in with a special free swimming event all day at Dover Leisure Centre, provided by Vista Leisure.

At 3.30pm, the Chairman of Dover District Council, Cllr Bernard Butcher, the Town Mayor of Dover, Cllr Mrs Diane Smallwood, and Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser will raise the Olympics 2012 flag on the seafront to show local support for the Games. Local sports star and potential future Olympian Hannah Moon will also be on hand to help raise the Olympic Handover Flag for Dover. A second flag will then be run to Deal.

The Olympic Handover Flags in Dover and Deal will be among 500 flags delivered to locations across the globe, and the flags will be raised with regions around the UK.

For more information on any of the above, you can visit the Dover District Council website at www.dover.gov.uk or call Gillian Gayton on 01304 872424.

¹ This article was revised on 22 August 2008 to reflect the new start time for the fireworks display of 8.12pm (previously 9pm) due to shipping movements.