As thousands of fireworks burst over Beijing to mark the closure of the Olympics on Sunday, Ramsgate’s Marlowe Academy was just one of 400 places in Britain ready to continue the games’ spirit in readiness for London in 2012.

Complete with an Olympic flag raising ceremony of its own, a new £1.3 million running track and athletics facilities were unveiled at The Marlowe Academy in Stirling Way. The finished project also includes facilities for long jump, high jump, shot-put, javelin, discus and pole vault.

The first of its kind in Thanet, the track has been paid for by Thanet Council, Kent County Council, Sport England through the National Sports Foundation, the Big Lottery Fund, The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust and the East Kent Partnership.

The opening ceremony began with Ian Johnson, the principal at Marlowe Academy, Cllr Mark Dance from KCC, Cllr Roger Latchford from TDC and Phil Pittock from Thanet Roadrunners Athletic Club declaring the track open, with a community fun run afterwards. The Olympic flag was raised by South Thanet MP Steve Ladyman.