British Embassy in Vietnam hoists Olympic flag

For the first time the flag of the Olympic London 2012 was hoisted in Vietnam on January 9.

British Ambassador Antony Stokes and Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports
and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan at the flag hoisting ceremony.

The flag hoisting ceremony was witnessed by many Vietnamese officials and Vietnamese athletes, including gymnast Ha Thanh, who was recently recognized as the best athlete of the year.

The flag hoisting ceremony in Hanoi yesterday marked the 200 days before the opening of the Olympic 2012 in London.

London is the first city that hosts the largest sport event in the world – the Olympic – for three times, including Olympic 1908, 1948 and 2012.

The British Ambassador to Vietnam Antony Stokes said at the ceremony--that the Olympic London 2012 is not only a sport event, but it is a chance to show the world an open, dynamic, creative, hospitable Britain, an ideal place for living, working, studying and doing business.

The Ambassador hoped that the Vietnamese delegation would win some medals at the Olympic 2012.

“The Olympic London 2012 is also an opportunity for Vietnamese athletes to understand more about the UK and for promoting the relations between Vietnam and the UK in sports,” he added.

After hoisting the flag together with Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan hoisted the flag, Ambassador Stokes presented Olympic London T-shirts to gymnast Ha Thanh and other athletes and disabled athletes who attended the ceremony.

english.vietnamnet.vn