And following the amazing success of double gold winner Rebecca Adlington, her family took part in the event.

The Mansfield swimmer's parents Steve and Kay, and sisters Laura and Chloe, were also joined at the Water Meadows swimming complex by the town's other famous Olympian, John Wetton.

• All the Rebecca Adlington stories

John was Mansfield's first ever Olympian, running in the 1,500 metres at the 1968 Tokyo Games.

Mansfield was one of 400 locations across the country to raise the Olympic Flag at 2.30pm on Sunday, co-inciding with a ceremony in Beijing at the closing of the 2008 games.

The flag will be flown at Water Meadows for the next four years until the 2012 Games in London - though it will briefly be switched to Mansfield Civic Centre on Tuesday for 'Rebecca Adlington's welcome home' open top bus parade.

Becky (19) won gold medals in the 400 and 800 metres freestyle events.

On Tuesday the town will celebrate her amazing double gold triumph at an open top bus parade.

Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton, who helped to raise the flag, said: "This acknowledges just how well Team GB has done.

"It bodes well for London in 2012 if we can inspire youngsters to get involved and be as committed as Rebecca."

Earlier in the week Becky's mum Kay said: "The support Becky has received from the town has been fantastic.

"We have had so many messages, cards and emails and everyone seems genuinely pleased that a local girl has done so well."

Becky's coach Bill Furniss took part in a similiar flag-raising ceremony outside County Hall in Nottingham.

Invited guests were entertained by Chinese Lion Dancers, before the Olympic flag arrived on a flotilla of boats.

Chairman of the County Council, Coun Joan Taylor, said: "This flag raising ceremony is the County Council's way to mark the end of the 2008 Olympics and begin the countdown to the London Olympics and Paralympics.

"We also have the added bonus of welcoming Bill Furniss back to Nottinghamshire".