Olympic and Paralympic heroes celebrate Beijing success with London parade
Press Release
Olympic and Paralympic heroes celebrate Beijing success with London parade
3-10-2008
Following their enormous success in Beijing this summer, Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes will take part in a heroes parade through the streets of London on Thursday 16 October. All the athletes that went to Beijing have been invited and it will be the first time so many of them will have been able to come together since their return.
The parade is due to begin in front of the Mansion House in the City at 11am. Athletes will travel on a series of floats, on a journey that will take them down Queen Victoria Street and past St Paul’s Cathedral. They will head down Fleet Street, past the Royal Courts of Justice and down the Strand. The public will be able to cheer on the athletes as they pass by.
The first float is due to arrive in Trafalgar Square at around 12:30pm, when lunchtime crowds are expected to gather to cheer on the sporting heroes, who have amassed the biggest medal haul for one hundred years.
All the athletes are due to assemble on the north terrace overlooking the square at approximately 1.15pm, with proceedings expected to have finished by 1:30pm.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: ‘Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes put in an absolutely brilliant performance in Beijing, bringing us all pride in their great achievement and renewing our confidence for 2012. The parade is the first time so many will have come together in public since Beijing, so let’s give them a big thank you and cheer them on as they travel through the streets of London.’
The Olympic and Paralympic Heroes parade is proudly supported by Visa, BT, Lloyds TSB and BP.
All timings are approximate and details are subject to change.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
A map of the route can be found at www.london.gov.uk/mayor/olympics/parade. Members of the public wishing to find out additional information should call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100.
Road closures will be in place starting at approximately 10am.
The public should check public transport in advance, including changes to bus routes, tube station closures, or tube entrance closures. For travel information, visit www.tfl.gov.uk.
For additional information relating to road closures contact 020 7983 4856.
British Olympic Association website: www.olympics.org.uk.
ParalympicsGB website: www.paralympics.org.uk.
London 2012 website: www.london2012.com
City of London website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.