A party is planned for London's Mall on August 24th

27/06/08: COUNCILS FLAGGED UP ABOUT 2012

by Robert Lee

As the Beijing Olympics reach their climax on August 24th, lavish handover celebrations will be marked by the presenting of the Games flag to London Mayor Boris Johnson. The Local Government Association, in partnership with the 2012 organising committee, is inviting UK councils to apply for a special “handover flag” of their own to raise during the closing ceremony in China.

Local Government Association spokesman Russell Spink said: “We are heavily involved with 2012, with the advertising and promotion for the events. We want local authorities to be able to use the logo for their brochures and leaflets”. Councils and local authorities will be able to fly their flags from places such as town halls, churches and museums.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, writing in a leaflet to councils, said of the handover day: “It will be more than just a flag raising, it is a chance to add your own local flavour to this moment of celebration”. As the UK celebrates hosting the next Olympics, there will be just over 1400 days until the Games begin.