Flag Bearers in Coventry
4th April 2011
Flying the flag for Coventry
Twenty-four schoolchildren will be flying the flag for Coventry at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament this month.
Youngsters from St Osburg’s RC Primary School, St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Keresley Grange Primary School and Hollyfast Primary School in the city were invited to the City of Coventry Stadium to find out more about their flag bearing duties.
The two dozen boys and girls will be carrying the flags of Oman and Senegal – as well as the flags of FIFA, as the players enter the field on Monday, April 23 (kick-off 7.45pm) for the vital match between the nations to determine the final place in the 16-team Football Tournament.
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) took the children on a familiarisation visit around the venue and a dress rehearsal for the big night.
The four teams of flag bearers take to the pitch ahead of the players and match officials and will remain on the field while the national anthems are played.
Jessica Maxwell, aged ten, from St John Fisher RC Primary School, said she was looking forward to lifting one of the flags at the match.
“I am really excited,” she said. “I never thought I would be able to do anything like this.
“I like to do sports mainly dancing and swimming and I think this is a great opportunity.”
Charles Thorpe, head teacher at Keresley Grange Primary School, said this was a wonderful opportunity for all the children to be involved in such a momentous occasion.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the children and they are really excited,” he said.
“The children feel part of the build-up to the Olympics and we’re doing a lot of work within school around it.
“It will give them a chance to make new friends and develop social skills and it is a superb opportunity for children who are interested in sport. It will be fun and the children will love it.”
Tickets for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifier at the City of Coventry Stadium are available by logging on to www.theticketfactory.com/footballtournamentqualification or by telephoning 0844 338 800 and from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by telephoning 0844 277 0700.
Hospitality packages for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualification Play-Off Match are available from £20 and can be purchased by calling 0844 873 6323 or emailing loft@ccfc.co.uk
Tickets are available for the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament, including matches at the City of Coventry Stadium. These tickets will go back on sale in late April or early May. View the full competition schedule by visiting www.tickets.london2012.com
More information on hospitality packages for Olympic Football matches at the City of Coventry Stadium is available by emailing loft@ccfc.co.uk
PICTURE CAPTION: Some of the schoolchildren who will be flag bearers, aided by two teachers, who attended a dress rehearsal for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Coventry
