Huge crowds lined the streets of London yesterday to create a fantastic atmosphere for the Olympic and Paralympic Heroes parade.
Team GB Chef de Mission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Simon Clegg paid tribute to the support of the British public:
“On behalf of all Team GB athletes and support staff, I would like to thank each and every person in the estimated 200,000 strong crowd for their wonderful support during the Olympic and Paralympic Heroes parade yesterday. It was a very proud and memorable day for everybody connected with Team GB.”
Nineteen-year-old canoeist Rachel Cawthorn, who was a member of the Britain’s Olympic Ambition 2012 Programme in Beijing, was given the honour of starting the proceedings as the first of twelve floats departed Mansion House in bright sunshine.
The athletes, led by triple Beijing Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy and his fellow cyclists, were cheered on by crowds ten deep as they travelled down Great Victoria Street and past St Paul's Cathedral. They continued on to Fleet Street, past the Royal Courts of Justice and down the Strand to Trafalgar Square where all Beijing Olympic and Paralympic athletes were presented on stage for the grand finale following a speech by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
After the parade Team GB’s Beijing 2008 Olympic heroes were treated to a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
For the British Olympic Association, attention is now fully focussed on preparing Team GB for competing at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in February 2010 and the London Olympic Games in the summer of 2012.