London and cities across the UK including Northern Ireland, are inviting the public to join in the celebrations and mark the handover of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London in 2012. Belfast’s Olympic celebrations will be hosted by the Belfast Mela festival which is a free event open for everyone to enjoy a cultural day out of music, food and culture from more than 30 nations across the world.
Belfast Mela will host Northern Irelands ‘Big Screen’ sponsored by London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the public to view the live closing ceremony in Beijing, the handover of the Olympic Flag and celebrations in London. Northern Ireland will join the rest of the UK in ‘Sing the Nation’ a short programme of community singing.
After the handover in Beijing, London 2012 will stage an eight minute dance and music performance, inviting the World to come to London to the next Summer Olympic Games in 2012.
At Belfast’s celebrations, the Lord Mayor of Belfast will be presented with a London 2012 handover Flag by children from our ethnic communities to mark the beginning of Northern Ireland being part of 2012.
‘Sing the Nation’ is working with the Olympics to create the UK’s biggest sing-a-long. The ‘Sing the Nation’ community singing session will take place in 25 cities from across the UK including Northern Ireland.
‘Sing Belfast’ our local choir will lead the public in the singing. Choir leader, Stephen McLoughlin from Lisburn will be accompanied by the Armagh Rhymers and performers from the Indian community. They will sing two regional songs - “I’ll Tell me Ma” and “Danny Boy” followed by a specially arranged national song “Summer Celebration” which all regions will sing. The final song is an Indian folk song “Insaaf Kii Dagar Pe”.
Notes to Editors
- In Northern Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is responsible for coordinating the 2012 Strategy for NI in partnership with other organisations responsible for arts & culture, education, volunteering, business, tourism, skills, and health. Northern Ireland intends to get the most of out the opportunities and benefits available in order to leave a lasting legacy beyond the London 2012 Games.
- The Belfast Mela is a unique international Summer festival and this year its theme will be Health and the Arts.
- The Belfast Mela festival will officially open at 12 noon on Sunday 24th August in Botanic Gardens.
- The ‘Big Screen’ will be available for viewing from
- 1pm the closing ceremonies will take place in Beijing.
- 2.05pm – 2.30pm the official handover of the Olympic Flag from the Mayor of Beijing to Mayor of London and from local Northern Ireland School children to the Lord Mayor of Belfast.
- 2.42pm – 3pm ‘Sing Belfast’ will take part in the ‘Sing the Nation’ programme.
- Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
- Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
