Press

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL
NEWS RELEASE
 
13 August 2008
 
Music, song and sports to mark Olympic handover
 
Songs, music and sports will come together in a major event in Manchester to mark the end of the Beijing Olympics and the handover to London in preparation for the 2012 Games.
 
A 100-strong Sing Manchester choir will join with 24 other cities across the country in a massive Sing the Nation event to create the UK’s biggest singalong as the Games finale and handover is broadcast on big outdoor screens on Sunday 24 August.
 
Manchester's own orchestra, the Hallé, who are currently celebrating their 150th anniversary, will perform a free outdoor concert featuring some favourite classics and there will be demonstrations of Olympic sports and the chance to have a go yourself.
 
Each city will sing a regional song led by a community choir. Manchester’s song will be How Deep Is Your Love by the city’s famous sons the Bee Gees, who grew up in Chorlton.
 
Then all 25 cities will sing together a new national song composed by Mike Brewer OBE, Director of the National Youth Choir, which promises a mix of elements of ancient English folk song with Monty Python. The words will be shown on the big screens so that everyone there can join in and sing along.
 
The choir and public singalong and the Hallé concert will take place in Albert Square, outside Manchester Town Hall. The sports demonstrations and chances to have a go will be in Exchange Square, outside the Triangle Shopping Centre.
 
The Manchester choir will be led by Jeff Borradaile, who teaches choral singing throughout the North West. It will be made up of members of the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus, the Ordsall Acapella Singers, Salford, the Blackburn People’s Choir and the Galloways Society for the Blind Choir from Preston and Morecambe.

An Olympic Handover Flag will be raised at Manchester Town Hall simultaneously with regions around the UK to celebrate the moment when London becomes the official Olympic Games host city.

A variety of sports led by Manchester Leisure’s Sports Development Team will also be on show, including group exhibitions and come-and-try activities. Cheerleaders, cyclists and athletes will encourage people to get involved and join the Olympic buzz.
 
Coverage of the Olympic handover ceremony will be shown on big screens in both squares. From 3.45pm in Exchange Square you can also watch the London 2012 Party concert live on the Big Screen.
Both events run from 1pm to 5.30pm.
 
“The city centre event will be an enjoyable way for all the family to mark the handover of the Games in preparation for the London Olympics in four years’ time,” said Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Leisure.
 
“Sing Manchester is a great chance for local people to come along and join in the singing, even if you think you can’t sing, and the chance to hear the Hallé free is not to be missed. Combined with the chance to see and try out Olympic sports, it all adds up to a great day out.”

The Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Sebastian Coe, said: ‘When the Mayor of London accepts the Olympic Flag on 24th August, the eyes of the world will turn to London and the UK as the next Summer Host City.

“It is a very important and exciting moment for us, and we want as many people as possible to join in the Handover celebrations. We are delighted that so many local authorities share our excitement and are proudly displaying the Olympic Handover Flag to mark this very special moment on our journey to 2012.”

Councillor Chris White, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport board, said:
“While the Olympic Games in 2012 are happening in London, it’s clear there’s strong support for them throughout the length and breadth of the country. More than 400 councils have arranged parties and flag-raising events for August 24th to mark the start of an exciting four years.

“Authorities are already investing in sports facilities and promoting healthier living to ensure the legacy of the Olympic Games will be long-lasting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for every part of the country to enjoy a boom in business, tourism and sporting excellence, and councils are ready to seize the opportunity.”
 
Limited seating will be available in Albert Square for the Hallé concert but the organisers suggest that visitors should take their own chairs. Food and drink will be available or you could take your own but not in glass containers.
 
For more information about the event visit www.manchesterlive.co.uk.
For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk  
 
ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
 
For more information about the Manchester event, contact Martin Hellewell, Manchester City Council Press Office tel: 0161 234 3729 .
 
For more information about Olympic Handover events nationwide contact the London 2012 Press Office on 0203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com or Claire McPhillips at Freud Communications claire.mcphillips@freud.com Tel: 020 3003 6413.
 
For more information about the national Sing the Nation event, contact Kat Huxtable on 07958 701405 or email kat@cantadora.co.uk
 
Notes to editors:  
 
Jeff Borradaile, who will lead the choir in the Manchester Sing, is full of life and stories and great for interviews. He can also teach a DJ/ presenter to sing on air!
 
Event Information
·   Space is limited and is available on a first come first served basis. Albert Square is a hard sett-paved surface. Limited seating will be provided but we recommend that you bring a chair. Gazebos are not permitted.
·   Food and drink concessions will be available on site or bring a picnic. Please do not bring glass items.
·   Toilet facilities are available at Mount Street.
·   The site is accessible to wheelchair users. A disabled viewing platform will be available and disabled toilet facilities will be available on site.
·   The event organisers reserve the right to make any alteration to the advertised details for the performances.
 
For more information about the event go to   www.manchesterlive.co.uk
For information about the Hallé go to www.halle.co.uk
For information about Sing the Nation go to www.singthenation.org