Press

August 20, 2008

Castle Square party for Olympic handover

SWANSEA'S Castle Square is hosting an afternoon of celebration and song this weekend to mark the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London.

The closing ceremony will be broadcast live on the new big screen that's been installed there on Sunday (August 24) and proceedings will include performances from Samba Tawe and the Morriston Phoenix Choir.

Former Olympians from Swansea will also be on hand to raise the Olympic flag in recognition of the official handover from China to the UK.

The free event starts at 12.45pm.

Samba Tawe will kick-off the action before the closing ceremony at Beijing begins at 1pm.

Flag-raising will then take place before the crowd is asked to play its part in celebrating the countdown to London 2012 by taking part in Sing the Nation.

This event is inviting cities across the UK to join in the country's biggest ever sing-a-long and Morriston Phoenix Choir will be leading the Swansea spectators in a rendition of Delilah by Tom Jones at 2.45pm.

Each city taking part will then join forces at 3pm in a simultaneous version of a national song with lyrics broadcast on the big screen.

This will then be followed by live coverage of proceedings in London where the likes of Katherine Jenkins and McFly will be taking part in a special concert to mark the start of the countdown to the 2012 Games.

Iwan Davies, Swansea Council's Head of Culture and Tourism, said: “It's wonderful to see the big screen being used for the people of Swansea to come together to watch a global event and to be able to put their own mark on proceedings with the singing of Delilah.

"I’m sure the crowd will do us proud and will make it a memorable day for all involved.”

Visit the Sing the Nation website at www.singlondon.org/singthenation for more information or call contact 01792 635422.

A range of local community and arts programming, regular BBC Wales and UK services and sports events such as the Six Nations and Wimbledon will also be broadcast on the big screen in future as it becomes a permanent feature of Castle Square.

Swansea Council and the Swansea BID (Business Independent District) are involved in the screen project and are responsible for its installation and running.

Funding has come from the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD) and London 2012 partners Lloyds TSB and BT.

The BBC is also a partner in the screen project