VIDEO: Celebrations as county gets Ahead of Game

The ceremony at Arun Leisure Centre also marked Paralympic handover day and the launch of Ahead of the Game, a scheme to promote sports, tourism, culture, business and education in West Sussex in the build-up to the 2012 games in London.

As well as the carnival atmosphere, there was a disability sports training camp with more than 120 schoolchildren from across the county taking part with help from 12-time Paralympic swimming medalist Jeanette Chippington.

West Sussex County Council cabinet member for the environment and economy Deborah Urquhart said: "The success of Team GB at the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, and the local celebrations during the handover of the games to London, have generated a great amount of interest and enthusiasm, and we look forward to building on this in the lead-up to the 2012 games."

Taking part in the sports camps were children from seven schools across West Sussex including St Anthony's School in Chichester.

The sports camp was run by the Sussex County Sports Partnership.

Children took part in sports such as basketball, cricket, new-age curling, swimming and tennis.

Disability sports development officer Katy Russell said: "West Sussex Ahead of the Game is a wonderful example of preparations for 2012 and will help raise the profile of disability sports.

"We are delighted to have contributed to such a great event."

The ceremony was opened by the Dragon Heart Beats, a dragon carnival float made entirely of recycled materials with built-in percussion. Following the float were school children from around the county.

In addition, there were performances from carnival dance groups I Pavoni and Mas Fusion as well as Fusion Dance, based at The Angmering School.

The day was also a launch for Celebrate! West Sussex, which is a four-year programme of cultural activities to run alongside the national cultural olympiad in the run-up to the 2012 games.

West Sussex Arts Partnership is co-ordinating the cultural programme for 2012.

Vice-chairman Simon Hardy said: "West Sussex has an ambitious plan for an integrated carnival as part of our local celebrations for 2012 and it was wonderful to see performers from Felpham Community College, Littlehampton Community School and The Angmering School contributing to the carnival atmosphere."

Arun District Council worked closely with the organisers of the launch and Cllr Norman Dingemans is determined the area makes the most of the Olympic Games.

He said: "Hosting the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we are committed to ensuring people in West Sussex get as much out of it as possible.

"We feel this is the beginning of a very exciting few years for this area and we intend to help people grasp every opportunity that comes along with it."

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