The park is one of just three venues in the East Midlands chosen to lead the celebrations and Wicksteed staff are hoping it will pave the way for their involvement in the London 2012 Olympic festivities.

A huge screen will be set up and when the Olympic flag is handed over to the Mayor of London, it will be shown in the park.

The park will be filled with thousands of visitors and will host sporting demonstrations, and a flag bearing the 2012 Olympics logo will be raised at about 2.30pm to coincide with the international flag handover.

Northamptonshire Sport, which is organising the event on Sunday, August 24, is calling for sports and cultural clubs to play a part on the day.
Nicky Milford, from Northamptonshire Sport, said: “It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate what we have got in our county.

“Northamptonshire tends to get overlooked because of the big cities in the region.

“We have four people going to Beijing and, hopefully, by the time this event comes round, we could be celebrating their success.”

Wicksteed Park’s events manager George O’Leary said: “We are an ideal location for something like this because we have 150 acres and we’re quite central.

“It’s good kudos to be chosen as one of three in the region and it’s something that Kettering should be proud of.

“It could pave the way for us being considered as having a role in the London 2012 games if we have already hosted something like this.

“It will help to put Wicksteed Park on the map.”

Wicksteed Park has been selected along with two venues in Leicestershire and Derbyshire to lead the region’s countdown to the 2012 games.