A street party, fireworks display and free swimming sessions in Dover and Deal will mark the official handover of the Olympics by Beijing to London on August 24 and the start of the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Sir Roger Manwood’s student and international rower Hannah Moon, 17, will row ashore at Dover with one of the official “handover flags”.

It is one of 17 specially-designed flags which will be raised in Kent at the same time as the official hand-over in Beijing.

The free party in Waterloo Crescent, Dover, will include stilt walkers and Punch and Judy shows, music and multi-cultural dancing as well as street athletics.

Free swimming will be on offer at Deal and Dover leisure centres.

In 1948, when the Olympics were last held in Britain, the Olympic Torch landed in Dover. One of the torches will be on display.

~Full story in this week’s Mercury.

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