The RAF's famous aerobatic display team The Red Arrows will fly over Edinburgh to mark the start of the Olympic Games, a few hours before the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony at 9pm on Friday (June 27).
Scheduled for 12.30pm, the flypast will see nine aircraft flying in the famous ‘Big Battle’ formation over Holyrood Park, up the Royal Mile, over Edinburgh Castle and, finally, over Festival Square.
Members of the public (and media) are being encouraged to assemble in Festival Square from noon, where they will also be able to enjoy a series of Olympic sports demonstrations and ‘come-and-try’ events, including judo, weightlifting and table tennis.
The crowd will also be treated to a lively performance by the kids from the Playhouse Stage Experience who will be singing and dancing their way through a couple of numbers from their fantastic production of ‘Footloose’.
Edinburgh’s own Opening Ceremony Event will get underway in the Square from 6pm. Hosted by BBC Scotland news presenter Catriona Shearer, the free event will include entertainment from the Pipefest Pipers, Ceilidhdonia ceilidh rock band, Pulse of the Place samba band, a highland dance troupe and an exclusive live performance of ‘Flower of Scotland’ by The Big Project Choir.
An appeal has gone out to all Olympic torchbearers to join a parade, which will take place at 8.30pm.
Festivals and Events Champion, Cllr Steve Cardownie, said: “We have a great programme lined up for Festival Square, with events for all the family to enjoy and to get involved in, and would encourage the people of Edinburgh to get behind the event and to celebrate the opening of the Olympic Games.”