Harlow raises the Olympic Standard
The Beijing spirit came to Harlow this week with a series of
Olympic-themed events to mark the end of the current 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,
the Chairman of Harlow Council, Councillor 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.
Cllr 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
activeharlow map is a useful guide to all the sports and leisure
activities available in Harlow and includes cycling and walking
routes around the town.
Councillor 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.
Councillor 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. “
With the excitement of Team
GB performing so strongly at Beijing 2008, and with
London now gearing up for 2012, Harlow is getting ready
to play its part in supporting the London Games.
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 spokesperson from the Harlow
Gateway Project 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 are
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 are looking forward to the
Leisurezone opening next year and to 2012 with confidence."