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Boris hails the aquatic medallists of Beijing Games
Kiran Randhawa, Matthew Beard, Rashid Razaq, Danny Brierley, Aline Nassif and Simon Kirby16.10.08
CHEERING wildly, Union-flag-waving crowds packed the streets of London today to give a golden welcome to Britain's Olympic heroes.
Construction workers and shop staff rubbed shoulders with pin-striped City traders and tourists as all stopped to applaud the Team GB parade.
As 12 floats carrying more than 500 athletes from the Olympic and Paralympic teams moved through the City, shops and offices were deserted as people lined the pavements in welcome. Many others cheered from windows and rooftops.
Police said up to 10,000 people were in Trafalgar Square, where the parade ended, and more than 100,000 had been on the streets.
In the Square, Mayor Boris Johnson addressed the medallists and the crowd. He said: "I have heard today there are some people on the telly who have been asking why we are holding this parade now in mid-October when the leaves are falling and the shares are crashing.
"And the answer is there is never a wrong time to celebrate the greatest achievement by a British Olympic and Paralympic team since 1908." He praised the cycling team and the "rowers, swimmers and sailors who have together formed the most amazing British aquatic triumph since Horatio Nelson won at the Battle of Trafalgar itself."
He also paid tribute to the dedication of athletes including Stratford's Christine Ohuruogu, the 400m champion.
Starting at Mansion House, the procession moved past St Pauls and down Fleet Street and Strand before reaching a packed Trafalgar Square. A crowd had turned it into a banner-waving, flag-draped lunchtime party.
Team GB won a record 19 golds in Beijing to finish fourth in the medal table, with a total haul of 47 medals. At the Paralympics, the British team was the most successful in two decades, winning 102 medals, including 42 golds, and finishing second behind the Chinese hosts. The celebratory atmosphere in the City today was a welcome relief to the gloom of recent weeks. Stockbroker George Gower, 47, said: "Business can wait for a while. Not only do I feel proud of the athletes, it's also a great relief to see everyone out on the streets happy and celebrating everything that they achieved. They deserve all the praise they get and they are an inspiration to us."
Fatima Atleef, 23, a student waving a St George's flag said: "These are the kind of moments that we should all enjoy even if you're not that into sport."
Ros Bryar, 55, professor of community nursing at City University, brought 20 students with her.
She said: "My students will eventually be responsible for driving young kids to achieving some of the things these Olympians have. We are all very excited about the Olympics coming to London."
Tom James, who won gold in the rowing coxless fours, summed up the feeling of the athletes when he said: "That was absolutely incredible. There was a constant round of applause for about two hours and I just hope that today's atmosphere will inspire young people for 2012."
Also speaking at the end of the parade, Chris Hoy, who won a record three golds for cycling, said the experience had been "incredible". The 32-year-old from Edinburgh added: "People were hanging out of their office windows just to see us. It's been so busy since June, it's just been one thing after the next and today is just great fun.
"These Games really captured the public's attention. At a time when people are wary about the future and the current economic situation, it was really great to have something positive to happen for the country."
Diver Tom Daley, 14, told how he had been let off school for the day: "It is amazing. I'm missing maths and Spanish but this is really worth it.'' Double Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds, 13, said: "It was amazing and it is wonderful to be in this parade. It is really exciting."
Despite the crowds, the total attendance was likely to be much lower than the return of the Rugby World Cup winners in 2003, and the Ashes parade in 2005. Officials said the event was being staged today rather than on a weekend because it had to coincide with the invitation from the Queen to a reception at Buckingham Palace, which was taking place afterwards.
Reader views (19)
Did you expect them just to not go then (and waste taxpayers money that had funded them over 4 years?)
I;d rather have a group of winners (without cheating) than the usual plucky losers.
- Mark, Watford
These 'heroes' have unquestioningly prostituted themselves to a ruthless regime that used the Olympics to further its own agendas, and to the commercial interests that will be making many of them rich. Selfish pursuit of success at any cost and an unhealthy obsession with winning is hardly 'role model' material.
- Mike Hestin, Hackney, UK
And the answer is there is never a wrong time to celebrate the greatest achievement by a British Olympic and Paralympic team since 1908." He praised the cycling team and the "rowers, swimmers and sailors who have together formed the most amazing British aquatic triumph since Horatio Nelson won at the Battle of Trafalgar itself."
Hmm that the Battle of the Atlantic and the sinking of the Graf Spee and Bismarck put into perspective!
- David, london uk
Congrats to the Brit team. Certainly role models.
Footballers are paid millions to perform and still cannot win any medals let alone gold ! Couldn't even qualify for European cup despite every advantage. They are a disgrace and not worth watching when they struggle against even small countries full of amateurs.
Much rather hear from the Olympic champions.
- Stuz Graz, Wimbledon, England
Who paid for this little jolly for our well paid pampered athletes?
At least the Rugby and cricket team won something for the nation whereas this job clearly only would be interested in themselves.
- James, Surrey
I enjoyed the Olympics and the success of our team but I would call them very good role models rather than heroes.
Kids can look up and say people like Becky Adlington and Chris had a life long ambition and achieved it with hard work..but only some help with funding but they have not saved life.
- Sam, Hertford
Whilst I agree a lot of the athletes did well and as ROLE models they are good for the future potentially we must be wary of not going overboard with hype because we are godo at that then seeing them "fail".
- Mark, Watford
Right..can we get over this glorfied sport say for mostly posh or middle class people in sports hardly anyone can take part in or really cares about
The England football team won last night...bet more people were interested in that.
There are real heroes about who deserve more press.
- Steve, London
They are role models...not heroes.
Please lets get this right.
They did well but were helped by money and self motivation.
Lets be honest despite how nice Ms Adlington and Mr Hoy might come across compared to footballers they did not win for the nation.
I mean they were competing against other Brits..not as a team!
- Alan, Peterbrough
Yes I popped out of the office and was overwhelmed with pride applauding all these young athletes who have done us all proud. I would have loved to have had my Grandchildren with me to witness this as they took an avid interest in the Beijing Olympics and are all keen sports people. Forget the wingers who have nothing better to do. All we Brits need to support support support everything good in the youth of today because yes whilst there are bad things going on in our neighbourhoods there are many more good things that we should be supporting!
Well done Team GB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Helyn, Loughton
I did leave work for an early lunch so I could aplaud the atheletes.
This was an ideal opportunity to celebrate the success of British achievement in both the Olympics and Paralympics.
Who cares if the streets are closed off for a few hours.
I for one and many thousands of other true Brits who lined the parade are very proud of all their achievements and if more parents encouraged their children to take up sport we wouldnt have the feral youngesters roaming the London streets with knives.
- Roberta, London
If this had been held at the weekend people could have chosen or not to be there. Why on earth the streets of the City/bus routes etc had to be completely disrupted for hours beats me. Totally maddening. Why the City anyway? Why not Hackney where the next Olympics are scheduled to take place.
- Jilly, London
Boo hoo, whinge whinge. Give it a rest, will you? I suppose there would be moaning about how rubbish GB is if we had come back emty-handed! It's all just a bit of fun; these people have done us proud and we're recognising that. With the predictive obesity rate for youngsters in this country, it's good to have some positive and inspirational sporting figures. Well done team GB!
- Kitty, London
The word is "HEROES": one hero has a Hero's Welcome, lots of heroes have a Heroes' Welcome. They bloody deserve it, too! Lets hope our Heroes deployed around the world in the Armed Forces get the same.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Nathalie - from the way you spell your name and 'douzen' I suspect you of being French and therefore someone who detests British national pride, so your narky comments are not surprising.
- Claire, London
Just saw it from my office windows, and helicopter is still driving me mad. Questions:
-Who is paying? I bloody hope it is the lottery and not me!
-What is the total carbon footprint of this little joke? some 10 lorries, even if BP is nicely advertising their 'green side' on them with on each only a douzen individuals, police bikes, police vans, police cars, ambulance, cleaning vans, helicopter? Sinc3e they are fabulous athletes, can't they show the examples to the obese population and WALK the parade?!
Pointless nuisance!
- Nathalie, Putney, London
Why is the parade being held during the middle of a week day? In the current climate many people cannot get out of work to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful athletes
- Andy, London
When and where's the route?
- Mark, RICHMOND, SURREY
Why is this taking place on a day when most Londoners will be working. The only people 'lining the route' will be tourists. Surely a weekend would jhave been far more preferable?
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, London
