NI Plans Own Olympic Celebration

There's to be a series of high profile events to celebrate Northern Ireland's expected participation in the four-year Cultural Olympiad of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Cultural Olympiad - billed as a unique cultural celebration of the London 2012 Games - will see a number of parallel events taking place across Northern Ireland.

Included in the list of events are 'City of Song' in Londonderry, 'A Glimpse of the Past' at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums, 'Going for Gold' competition in Belfast Central Library and 'Light Up Carrickfergus Castle' when one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic monuments will be lit up with one of the four colours of London 2012.

Welcoming the open weekend launch, the NI Culture & Arts Minister, Gregory Campbell said yesterday: "The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a celebration of sport for everyone. Northern Ireland will benefit from the 2012 Games in many ways including sport, culture, tourism, volunteering, education, business and skills.

"The launch of the Cultural Olympiad today is the beginning of Northern Ireland’s journey to bring together arts and sport in innovative and unique projects and to share understanding of cultural diversity across Northern Ireland over the next four years.

"I want to congratulate everyone involved in making the open weekend possible. The activities taking place will showcase Northern Ireland’s diverse and vibrant cultural scene."

The Cultural Olympiad weekend will also launch 10 new major cultural projects which will have significant impact in the nations and regions throughout the four years and generate long-term benefit to the culture of the Northern Ireland.

The launch this week was especially appropriate as 33-year-old Co Londonderry cyclist, Wendy Houvenaghel, has been celebrating becoming Northern Ireland's first female Olympic medallist since Mary Peters in 1972, with an open-top bus cavalcade and reception.

The Upperlands woman had to settle for an Olympic silver medal after being pipped by her GB team mate Rebecca Romero in last month's 3,000m individual pursuit final.

See: Congratulations On Medal Win

(BMcC/KMcA)