Celebrate Woking Gears Up for 2012

Woking Borough Council will launch its inspiring multi-cultural programme of community events and projects, `Celebrate Woking', and associated website, www.celebratewoking.info, amongst a fanfare of cultural activities in Woking Town Centre on Saturday 23 July.

To mark the start of the Borough's exciting year-long Celebrate Woking programme and to kick off Woking Dance Festival's two-week `Summer Shorts 2011' community dance festival, Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Smith, will raise the official London 2012 Host Borough flag in Town Square. The flag, a gift from the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), was formally presented to Cllr Tony Branagan (on behalf of the Borough) last month by Chair of LOCOG and double Olympic Gold Medallist, Seb Coe, in recognition of its role in the forthcoming Games.

In celebration of the launch of the Celebrate Woking programme, the Council will be running an exclusive competition to win pairs of priority viewing wristbands within a reserved area along part of the London-Surrey Cycle Classic route on Sunday 14 August. The Cycle Classic is part of the London Prepares Series test events which will pass along the route of the London 2012 Road Race and will allow LOCOG to test crucial aspects of its operations less than one year ahead of the Games.

Forty pairs of the sought after wristbands are up for grabs, which will provide the lucky winners with excellent viewing opportunities along the gruelling zig-zag section of the route at Box Hill, Dorking.

The free competition, administered by Woking Borough Council and available to Woking Borough residents only, will open on Saturday 23 July and close on Tuesday 2 August. All entries will be subject to strict terms and conditions and must be made via the Celebrate Woking website at www.celebratewoking.info

Speaking about the Games and forthcoming cultural opportunities as part of Celebrate Woking, Cllr Tony Branagan, Lead Member for 2012 at Woking Borough Council, said: "For one weekend in July next year, the eyes of the world will be transfixed upon the undulating, green landscapes of Surrey as the world's top professional men and women cyclists battle it out for gold, silver and bronze medals right on our doorstep.

"To commemorate this once in a lifetime opportunity and enthuse future generations of local athletes and artists, the Council has set aside funding to deliver an inspirational programme of community-based multi-cultural events in line with the ethos of the five Olympic rings - music, dance, language/literature, visual arts and sports.

He continued: "We hope the Celebrate Woking programme will provide cultural and health and well-being benefits for residents, schools and community groups, plus provide economic opportunities for local businesses. The new website provides the perfect portal for everyone to find out what is coming up over the next year, get involved in one of the many projects and make a pledge in the lead up to `the greatest show on earth', the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee."

The launch of the `Summer Shorts 2011' festival, part of the Woking Dance Festival, will run from 10am to 4pm in Woking Town Square. Representatives from Celebrate Woking and other community groups will also be on hand to talk to members of the public in Mercia Walk.