Sunday 24 August 2008
Manchester City Centre, 1-5.30pm
ADMISSION IS FREE

On Sunday 24 August, the Mayor of Beijing will officially hand the Olympic flag to the Mayor of London as part of the Beijing Olympic Games Closing Ceremony. Manchester will join the celebrations with an afternoon of live music, song and sport activities.

Albert Square, 1-5.30pm
In Albert Square, the afternoon begins with the official handover from Beijing to London, live on the Big Screen.

To celebrate the handover, Manchester joins 24 cities across the UK in the world's biggest sing-a-long, Sing the Nation: The City Sing. Musical Director Jeff Borradaile and a choir of 150 singers, will lead the crowd in Albert Square in 15 minutes of collective song. Songs include: the regional song for Manchester, How Deep is Your Love (Bee Gees); the national song Summer Celebration which has been composed by the Director of the National Youth Choir, Mike Brewer OBE. Everyone can join in. The lyrics will be broadcast on the big screen, or you can download a copy from Sing the Nation's website (click here).

Manchester's own orchestra, the Hallé who are currently celebrating their 150th anniversary, will perform a free outdoor concert of classical favourites. Led by conductor John Wilson, the programme will include: Fanfare for the Common Man (Copland), Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, Khachaturian's Spartacus (made famous as the theme to the Onedin Line), and Chariots of Fire (Vangelis).

Exchange Square, 1-5.30pm
Exchange Square is an official Olympic Live Site and from 1pm, you can watch the Beijing Closing Ceremony and the handover from Beijing to London live on the Big Screen.

There will be sport demonstrations, activities and you can have a go at some of the Olympic sports. From 3.45pm you can also watch the London 2012 Party concert live on the Big Screen.

Please note that space is limited and is available on a first come first served basis. Albert Square is a hard surface, and although there is limited seating provided, we recommend that you bring a chair. Gazebos are not permitted.

You will be able to purchase food and drink from stands, but alternatively why not bring a picnic? Glass items are not allowed. 

Toilet facilities are available on Mount Street. The site is accessible to wheelchair users and a disabled viewing platform and disabled toilet facilities will be available on site.

For more information about the event, visit Manchester Live's website (click here).
For information about Sing the Nation, visit their website (click here). 

The event organisers reserve the right to make any alteration to the advertised details for the performances.