Published: Wednesday, 27th August, 2008 12:30
Olympic flag flies over Alloa
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Marjorie MacFarlane, sports development manager, flies the Olympic flag from Greenfield House.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
POTENTIAL Olympians from Clackmannanshire took part in a nationwide flag raising ceremony to celebrate the London Games in 2012.
As the Beijing Olympics in China drew to a close on Sunday, athletes and councillors raised the London Olympic Handover Flag at Greenfield House in Alloa.
In a historic move every county across the UK was invited to stage a ceremony to commemorate the moment when London became the official Olympic Games Host City.
Provost Derek Stewart and Councillor Bobby McGill were joined by some of Clackmannanshire’s top sportsmen, and potential 2012 Olympians, at the council’s headquarters.
Chris Chalk (17), from Blairlogie, is a member of Alloa Gymnastic Club and Falkirk Boys Gymnastics Club.
The former Alva Academy pupil is Scotland’s junior gymnastics champion and has been selected to represent Scotland at the UK School Games in Bath this weekend.
Tullibody swimmer Stuart Greig (19) recently returned from the Olympic Trials in Sheffield with two lifetime bests in both the 200m freestyle and the 100m butterfly.
The former St Modan’s High School pupil has been supported by Central Scotland Institute for Sport for the past four years.
Also in attendance were Scottish Rugby Union first year apprentices Graeme Simpson and Gregor Manson, and second year apprentices Jason Morgan and Ashley Ireland.
And representing the sport of football was SFA second year apprentice Chris Reid.
The Olympic Handover Flag raised in Alloa was one of over 500 flags delivered to locations including HM Armed Forces, embassies around the world, City Halls, British Council offices and Foreign and Commonwealth offices.
Mr McGill, who is a member of the Central Scotland Institute of Sport’s executive committee, told the Advertiser, “Research shows that home nations always increase their medal haul at major sporting events thanks to the combination of a home crowd cheering you on and a familiarity with the facilities.
“With so many major sporting events taking place in Britain over the next few years it’s a fantastic opportunity for Clackmannanshire’s many talented young athletes to raise their game and compete to their full potential with the extra boost of having the crowd behind them.
“It’s an opportunity the council and our partners will be taking full advantage of.”
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Alloa pick up first away point