CHRISTCHURCH will be among the communities across the country that will be marking the moment Britain becomes host of the next Olympic Games.

At 10am on Sunday, August 24 - the closing day of the Beijing Olympics - Christchurch Mayor Cllr David Flagg and local sailing champion Max Holloway will fly the flag for the London Olympics.

The special flag featuring the Union Olympic logo will be hoisted above the town's Two Riversmeet leisure centre where it will flutter proudly in the breeze for the next four years as the country counts down to 2012.

With the Olympic sailing events taking place just along the Jurassic Coast at Weymouth, Christchurch is ideally placed to host training camps during the four-year build up.

So the opportunity will be taken to promote Christchurch Sailing, a consortium of local authority, business, community and sailing interests formed to achieve long-lasting benefits from the games. Christchurch will be entered in the Olympic Games training guide so that teams from around the world will be able to weigh up the benefits of sailing in similar waters - and of course, hotels and other businesses will be well-placed to cash in.

Cllr Flagg wants to see large numbers of residents at the hand-over of the Olympic flag.

"It's a great way to kick off the four years of preparation for the next Olympics, especially as there is local interest with Highcliffe Sailing Club being included in the pre-games training camp guide," he said.

"This should encourage international sailing teams to come to Christchurch to prepare for the sailing events being held in Weymouth."

  • To help residents celebrate on Sunday, August 24, Two Riversmeet leisure centre will offer free swimming from 10am to 3pm.

There will also be the chance to win donated sports and leisure prizes.