Staffordshire flies the flag for London 2012

Four Olympians attended a special event in Stafford at the weekend as part of the Staffordshire celebrations to mark the handover of the Olympic flag from Beijing to London.

Keri Lees, 400m hurdles (Sydney 2000), Geoff Parsons, High Jump (Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988), John Court, Canoe Slalom (Munich 1972) and John Maycock, 1500m (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and 5000m (Athens 2004) joined talented young athletes from Staffordshire for a nationwide flag raising event on Sunday 24^th August at the Shire Hall Gallery and The Guildhall Shopping Centre in Stafford, Staffordshire.

Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council joined forces for the event which saw these local young athletes, who recently received the Young People’s Sports Grants from Staffordshire County Council, present two special London 2012 Handover flags to respective councillors for Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council.

The flags were raised onto the Shire Hall Gallery and The Guildhall Shopping Centre, Stafford to coincide with the handover of the Olympic flag to the Mayor of London during the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games.

This event will mark the start of a four year journey for the UK and Staffordshire which will aim to ensure that the London 2012 Games are a resounding success and achieve wide ranging benefits for people in the county.

County Councillor and Chairman Terry Dix said: “This was a great opportunity for these talented young Staffordshire athletes to be a part of this special occasion. Our aim in Staffordshire is to play a part in that process to make the Games a resounding success and to derive the maximum economic, sporting, cultural, health and social benefits before, during and long after the event”.

Councillor Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: "To take part in the Olympics is something very special - it is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career. And there will be no greater drive for these talented young athletes than to know they could be representing their country on home soil in a few years time.

"The Council has an important role to play in helping ensure the future Olympic talent of Stafford Borough is properly nurtured - working in partnership to deliver sports schemes, facilities and advice - so we can all reap the benefits, whether they be financial, health wise or enhancing the sense of pride we already have in our area."

Young people from the Staffordshire Youth Training Choir Central also performed.

The Shire Hall Library joined in the spirit of the Beijing Games with children and their families having fun making headdresses using the five official mascots for the Beijing Games.

For more information contact:

Kate Whitworth
Head of Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service
Staffordshire County Council
T: 01785 278112
E: kate.whitworth@staffordshire.gov.uk

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