HARLOW: Town marks Olympics handover

3:07pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

THE Beijing spirit came to Harlow with a series of Olympic-themed events to mark the end of the Olympic Games and start the countdown to London 2012.

The festivities began with a traditional Chinese lion dance display outside the Civic Centre to echo the colour and excitement of the closing ceremony in Beijng’s Bird’s Nest Stadium.

After the dance, which was enjoyed by hundreds of spectators, council chairman Tony Hall raised Harlow’s official Olympic flag outside the Civic Centre, which will remain flying until the end of the Paralympic Games in September.

Mr Hall then led a short bike ride around the town from a route featured in the council’s new activeharlow map, which was launched on the same day to continue the sporting theme.

The map is a useful guide to all the sports and leisure activities available in Harlow and includes cycling and walking routes around the town.

Mr Hall said: “The creation of the activeharlow map will help people to enrich their lives by getting involved in sport or simply including more physical activity in their daily lives.“ After the bike ride, cyclists and spectators were invited to join a party at Café Youth, which included more entertainment from the Chinese lion dancers, free hot Chinese food and also African Music Workshops to celebrate the event’s multi-cultural identity.

Mr Hall said: “The flag-raising and bike ride were organised to mark the handing over of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to London in 2012, with Harlow poised to reap significant benefits from our proximity to the Olympic Village.

“With Harlow's new leisure centre being named in the Pre-Games Training Camp Guide and Paralympic Pre-Games Training Guide, Harlow Council is keen to promote the Games and encourage local people to make the most of this unique opportunity by inspiring them to become active and reach their potential in life. “ A key component of the Harlow Gateway project is the new Harlow Leisurezone which has been included as a potential official training venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A Harlow Gateway Project spokesmasn said: "We are delighted by Team GB's outstanding success in Beijing - it has been a superb team performance which sets a new standard. “Now, as we get ready for London 2012, we’re getting excited about the new standard that the Harlow Leisurezone will set right here in Harlow - great new facilities and a real boost to Harlow. We’re looking forward to the Leisurezone opening next year and to 2012 with confidence."

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