Olympic flag to be raised at Colonnade ceremony

To celebrate the handing over of the Olympics to the UK, each local authority has been invited to take stage a ceremony.

In a statement this week, the authority said: "Rother District Council with partners is looking to raise the flag on the Handover Day and would welcome members of the public to join them at Bexhill Seafront on Sunday,August 24 at around 3.15pm.

"This will coincide with the official Beijing to London handover which will take place that afternoon."

The flag will then be offered to Battle and Rye for two further Olympic handover and launch celebrations:

'¢Paralympic Handover '“ Wednesday, September 17: Claverham Sports College and Battle Town Council to lead planning for this event '“ details to follow.

'¢Cultural Olympiad Launch Weekend '“ September 26-28: 37th Rye Arts Festival, run by local volunteers, and with Rye Arts and Enterprise Specialist College leading the planning for this event

"In particular for the 24th August event, Rother District Council is keen to involve any past Olympians, anyone expected to be a future Olympic star or any'unsung' volunteers who have dedicated their time to developing local talent and would welcome nominations for people from these categories to act as VIPs at the flag raising ceremony.

Rother's Flying The Flag event on August 24 will take place by the flag posts next to Bexhill Rowing Club's headquarters by the Colonnade.

Olympic Medallist Sean Baldock, who has been coaching and inspiring children in local schools, with join local dignitaries for the ceremony.

Bexhill Rowing Club, which won awards at the recent Bexhill Achievers Awards Ceremony, has also been invited alongside Freedom Leisure who are the main leisure providers in the area.