Dates for your diaries – 24 August 2008 and 17 September 2008

24 August 2008 is a Bank Holiday Sunday. At around 2.45pm that afternoon, the eight minute handover ceremony from the Beijing Olympiad to the London Olympiad will take place as part of the much longer Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony. Local communities across the UK are being encouraged to celebrate the handover, whether through community festivals, street parties, or whatever they choose! London 2012 will be contacting all local authorities to encourage them to do something to celebrate the event, whilst it is hoped that several major tourism attractions in Kent may also host celebratory events.

17 September 2008 is a school term Wednesday, and again at around 2.45pm an eight minute handover ceremony will take place as part of the Beijing Paralympics Closing Ceremony. In the UK the focus of the celebrations is expected to be around young people and schools, which is why the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games will be launching its 20 in 12 programme that day.

To discuss what your area or organisation might do on either or both of these days, please contact Stephanie.holt@kent.gov.uk in the first instance.

To keep upto date with the Games please see our website

Image © Strange Cargo, by Brigitte Orasinksi