At a special event at Gala Rugby Club's Netherdale ground, one of a number of special Olympic flags was raised, witnessed by Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker and executive member for culture, sport and community learning, Graham Garvie.

Also in attendance were other council representatives and some of the young local athletes who are members of SBC's successful athlete support programme and are aiming for a place in the London Olympics and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The special Olympic flags are also being flown from secondary schools across the region over the next three weeks to help encourage local budding young athletes to work towards representing their country in their chosen sports.

And with the Olympic flag now handed over to London for the 2012 games, SBC was also one of various organisations throughout the UK to take up the invitation to fly the special flag in support of the London event, heralding the achievement of British athletes in the Beijing Games, and to set out the hopes for success for Borders athletes in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and London Olympics.

Speaking at Netherdale, Mr Garvie said the countdown to the London Games had now started.

"This is a very significant moment for Great Britain, for London and for us here in the Scottish Borders," he said.

"We take great pride in our athletes' achievements both in the Borders and across the country.