SOUTHAMPTON missed out on the start of the Olympic celebrations yesterday as giant television screens that will broadcast live action from Beijing were unveiled across Britain.

Southampton City Council earlier this year rejected an offer from the organisers of the London 2012 Games to host one of the 26 square metre screens - a decision described by one senior councillor as "shameful".

Instead, the giant screen went to south coast rivals Portsmouth, which yesterday unveiled the screen in Guildhall Square to mark four years until the start of the 2012 Games in London.

The decision to reject the offer was taken by the Labour and Liberal Democrat-controlled council in February. They deemed that the cost was too high.

Portsmouth, along with seven other cities, will now play in a key role in the handover celebrations during the spectacular closing ceremony.

The cities, dubbed "Live Sites", will take part in a mass sing-a-long that is expected to attract thousands. A concert will be beamed live from London to each of the Live Sites, with The Feeling, Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and McFly all set to perform. It was also revealed yesterday that a other 20 cities would have temporary screens for the closing ceremony - but not Soutahmpton.

The screens represent a major legacy from London 2012 as they will operate not just for the four years up to 2012, but for many years afterwards. They will carry a range of local information, news, cultural, sporting, education and community events and content. Moving forward, the screens will also have interactive capabilities.

The screens are located at Cardiff, Middlesborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Swansea, and Waltham Forest, while planning permission is also pending for screens in Bristol and Norwich.

Tory Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said it was a huge loss for the city and its engagement with the Olympics. The council is hopeful it might be offered a giant screen in the second round of distribution next year.

However, the scheme has been criticised by design organisation the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). Director Sarah Gaventa said: "Just when we're starting to create well-designed, civilised public space in many English towns, along comes a rash of intrusive neon screens.

Having a fun, relaxed time in our streets and squares should come from the character and design of a place, not something that feels more like an outdoor Currys."