In Hemel Hempstead on Sunday (August 24), about 1,000 people celebrated the milestone in preparations for London 2012 by competing in friendly football, netball, long jump and sprint tournaments.

And at the town's Civic Centre today, a London 2012 flag was raised to mark the changeover.

Dacorum Borough Councillor Colette Wyatt-Lowe said: "The raising of the Olympic flag in Dacorum demonstrates our commitment and enthusiasm for the London 2012 Olympic Games and our intention to support the London Games all the way."

At the family sports day, held at Sportspace Athletic Track in Jarman Park - a facility that could be used by foreign athletes in the run-up to the 2012 Games, the Olympic flag was paraded around the track at 3.30pm by talented young athletes from the borough.

Young and old sports fans also competed in family teams for fun, including athlete and Dacorum resident Louise Collins, who reached a sprint semi-final at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

The winning family, the Robinsons, from Hemel Hempstead, were presented with medals to mark their achievement.

Two times gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Lloyd Upsdell also made an appearance, and entertainment was on offer from local radio DJs, bands Dorian Graze and Scratch, and display teams from the Sapphire School of Gymnastics, the Phipps School of Irish Dancers, the dance outfit B Boy Crew and self-defence experts from club Streetwise.

The London 2012 flag, with Union Jack colours on a white background, will fly outside the Civic Centre in Marlowes until the end of the Beijing Paralympic Games on September 17.

It will then be raised again to mark the next significant stage in the build up to the London Games in 2012.