Blackpool set for Olympic handover

5:23pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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Blackpool is set to join the Olympic handover from Beijing to London with its very own opening ceremony in two parts.

A day of events this Sunday and a weekend long Cultural Olympiad in September have been planned to mark the start of the celebrations in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Blackpool is hoping to really wow the crowds with a series of events planned for the two occasions.

Celebrations on August 24 in Blackpool will feature a trio of members from the Blackpool Gospel Choir will join 70 to 100 young people in the Sports Arena at Stanley Park to lead the public in singing 'Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside'.

Other celebrations will include an Olympic festival in Stanley Park featuring athletic competitions for young people and community groups from around the town.

A Paralympics-inspired competition for children and young people with a disability will also take place at Blackpool Sports Centre.

If any parent wishes their child (8-15 years) to attend and take part in the free activities on Sunday they need to complete a parental consent form which are available by calling 01253 478433.

A Cultural Olympiad on September 26-28 will see a weekend of cultural and sporting festivities, much like the climax to the spectacular opening ceremonies of the Games themselves.

It is planned to feature an athlete on top of the town’s famous mirror ball in a spectacular stunt to take place at 8pm for 12 minutes to fit with the date of the London Olympics, the time being 20.12.

The world fireworks championships will also feature Olympic elements, the display itself being lit by a ceremonial torch carried from the mirror ball to the display site by local Olympic hopefuls.

The display will also include a special feature depicting the iconic Olympic rings, all watched over by the famous Blackpool tower, which will be lit in Olympic colours as a one off for the occasion.

Over the weekend prices at council leisure facilities will be slashed to 1948 prices, to reflect the last time the Olympics were held in London.