News story

090/2012 - Members of the Armed Forces train to raise the flags at London 2012

Service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will be raising flags at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Individuals from all three services will take on the role of flag bearers for more than 100 Team Welcome and 805 Victory Ceremonies, and training for this prestigious honour is currently taking place at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published
4 July 2012
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Personnel from all three Services are being refreshed in basic drill and trained in the art of ceremonial flag raising. They are also undergoing rigorous Dress Inspections to ensure they will be turned out in their ceremonial day uniforms to the highest standard.

Heading up the ceremonial team responsible for the training is Lieutenant Commander Jon Glass. He said:

Flags are a major part of Naval tradition. It is an honour to be responsible for the training of the military Flag Raisers for this once in a lifetime opportunity. The professionalism of our Armed Forces will be showcased in front of an international audience who will witness both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said:

The flag raising duties at Olympic and Paralympic Games are seen as an honour but we are in fact honoured to have these inspirational men and women be part of London 2012.

In total 176 Service personnel will raise flags during the Games period, and have been selected by their Service because they have a sporting connection, have shone on operations or have strong links within the community.

ENDS

Background information

  1. On 8 March 2012, LOCOG announced the involvement of personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force as flag bearers for the Team Welcome and Victory Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  2. Team Welcome Ceremonies are designed to formally welcome the athletes and team officials to the Games. There will be over 100 Team Welcome Ceremonies taking place on the days leading up to the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  3. There will be a total of 805 Victory Ceremonies across the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Victory Ceremonies take place after a medal event finishes: after the awarding of medals the flags of the gold, silver and bronze medal – winning athletes countries are raised while the national anthem of the country or territory of the winning athlete is played.

  4. HMS Collingwood is the home of the Maritime Warfare School which contributes to the operational capability of the Fleet. It provides first class training to all officers and ratings of the Royal Navy in their professional specialisations, which include Weapon Engineering, Communications, and Warfare.

  5. Images of the training sessions can be accessed via the Defence News Imagery website, www.dni.mod.uk/ Images for use in news reporting can be accessed via a temporary log-in. Username: GuestUser Password: WhiteBoard.

  6. Further information on the Olympic Games can be found on the LOCOG website www.london2012.com

For further info contact Defence PR - Katy Marshall, 020 7807 8935, katy.marshall823@mod.uk or Vicky Beacon, 020 7218 6068 / 07876 477793.

Published 4 July 2012