Mayor's Parade Hits The Big Screen

Live footage of tomorrow's Lord Mayor's Parade is to be shown on the newly erected 'big screen' in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

The screen is planned to show a packed schedule of events and live screenings in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It will be run in partnership between the London Organising Committee of the games, the BBC and various Live Site venues.

As well as sporting highlights and major events – including the Men's Wimbledon tennis final and the Royal Opera House production of 'Cinderella' - there will be a mixture of national and local content with input from the local community and arts groups.

Belfast Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, (pictured, centre, checking out the screen) said he was honoured that footage of his parade would be used as part of the programming content.

"This is a wonderful way for us to engage with the local community," he said. "As well as showing coverage of the Games, the screens will be used to show video, news and community information.

"It is a fantastic addition to the city centre and one which I am sure the public will appreciate and really enjoy," he said.

Also shown here, (right) Nelson McCausland, the Stormont Social Development Minister, said: "The Big Screen is a great innovation for Belfast bringing the excitement of the 2012 London Olympics into the heart of the city to be enjoyed by shoppers, visitors and those who work in the city centre."

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín (pictured left) said 'Live Sites', such as the Belfast installation, provided a "tangible benefit and genuine legacy" from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"They are designed to animate local public places with the ability to bring communities together to celebrate and join in a shared space.

"I welcome the opportunity to attend this launch of Belfast's live site and I look forward to the Autumn when Derry is expected to unveil their live site and legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Belfast is one of just 21 Live Sites operating at locations across the UK.

Full Line-up

Tbe parade leaves Writers' Square (opposite St Anne Cathedral) at 12 noon.

From there, it will move along Royal Avenue and Donegall Place before finishing at the City Hall, where a Global Café will be set up on the lawn.

A full line-up of musical entertainment and free workshops will run throughout the afternoon in the grounds of City Hall.

Parade participants will include a mix of multi-cultural entertainment with a spectacular troupe of Jai Ho Indian dancers, Eastern European dancers in traditional costume, Bollystreet dancers, African drummers, Chinese lions and dragons, and plenty of Irish, English, Scots and Welsh talent too.

Family fun will include street performers, face painting, a have-a-go drum circle, comedy duos on the hoof and much more to entertain and delight, said a City Hall spokeswoman.

(DW/BMcC)