Mayor of Ashford Cllr
John Link joined Nick Boylan, Great Britain Swimming Captain for
people with learning disabilities, at the Civic Centre on
Sunday 24th August, 2008, to help raise the Olympic Handover Flag,
marking the moment that London became the official Host City for
the Olympic Games.
The special flag was one of over 500 flags delivered to
locations all over the UK and the rest of the world, and is a first
in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Nick Boylan, who has recently returned from European
Championships with five medals, was presented with a cheque for
£300 by the Mayor, on behalf of Ashford Borough Council, as a
contribution towards his sports funding.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, portfolio holder
for cultural services, said: “As we celebrate the passing of the
Olympic flag from Beijing to London for the 2012 Games, we can look
forward to the future in Ashford and the role we can play.
“This Borough has a strong commitment to promoting fitness and
wellbeing through sport, and this has been recognised by the London
Olympic Committee, who have included four of our venues in the
Pre-Games Training Camps Guide.
“I am particularly pleased that Nick Boylan is here today as he
is one of the most successful athletes in the Borough and he is
also a sporting ambassador for ‘Active Ashford’, the borough’s
Sports Partnership Network.”