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Queen hails British Olympic glory Queen hails British Olympic glory
(about 5 hours later)
The Queen has congratulated British competitors for their success at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Queen has congratulated the UK's Beijing heroes, as London prepares to become the official Olympics city.
Team GB has had its best Olympic medal performance for 100 years with 19 golds and 47 in total. She said Team GB's efforts - its best Olympic medal performance for 100 years - would inspire London in four years.
The Queen said she had been impressed by British and Commonwealth athletes in China, and was looking forward to the 2012 Games in London. The Beijing closing ceremony and the official Olympic handover will be shown on 30 giant screens across the UK, and a free concert will be held in London.
The Beijing closing ceremony will take place on Sunday when the Olympics will be handed over to London. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he wants to see a Great British football team at London 2012.
'Golden triumphs' "The British public would find it strange if there was no British team," Mr Brown told BBC Olympic Breakfast. As a nation we now look forward to holding the Olympic Games in London in 2012 The Queen
There was no British football team in Beijing because the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland football bodies feared it would affect their status within governing body Fifa.
The prime minister will attend Sunday's closing ceremony in Beijing, which begins at 1300 BST and will include an eight-minute slot for London to give a flavour of the kind of Games it is planning.
Footballer David Beckham, singer Leona Lewis, a red double-decker bus and an innovative musical sequence combining elements of the BBC Radio 4's shipping forecast, Jerusalem and Greensleeves are tipped to appear.
London Mayor Boris Johnson will receive the Olympic flag and it will be carried by cyclist Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals, a feat achieved only once before by a British athlete.
Heathrow ban
At the same time a handover party will be held outside Buckingham Palace with a concert featuring Will Young, James Morrison, McFly, The Feeling and Scouting for Girls.
Team GB won 19 golds and a total of 47 medals, earning Great Britain fourth place in the medal table, far higher than the eighth place hoped for by the British Olympic Association.
But members of the public hoping to welcome members of the team when they arrive at Heathrow on Monday have been told to stay away.James Degale with Britain's last gold medal, its 19th in total
A spokeswoman for British Airways said a joint decision by the police, the British Airports Authority and the airline was made to encourage people to stay away from the airport, because of health and safety fears.
The athletes would not use the main concourse and would not be visible to the public, she said.
Britain's Olympians will attend a Downing Street reception on their return to the UK, and a victory parade for the team will be held in London on 16 October.
The Queen said: "As the Olympic Games in Beijing draw to a close, I have been particularly impressed by the British and Commonwealth athletes who have taken part in this memorable competition and who have contributed so much to the spirit of these remarkable Games in the various disciplines.The Queen said: "As the Olympic Games in Beijing draw to a close, I have been particularly impressed by the British and Commonwealth athletes who have taken part in this memorable competition and who have contributed so much to the spirit of these remarkable Games in the various disciplines.
As a nation we now look forward to holding the Olympic Games in London in 2012 The Queen
"Like so many people around the world, I have followed their endeavours with great interest and admiration.""Like so many people around the world, I have followed their endeavours with great interest and admiration."
The Queen said she sent her "warmest congratulations" to all the participants, and those who had supported them. Honours pledge
The Queen said she sent her "warmest congratulations" to all the participants and those who had supported them.
She added: "As a nation we now look forward to holding the Olympic Games in London in 2012.She added: "As a nation we now look forward to holding the Olympic Games in London in 2012.
"The golden triumphs of the present British team can only serve as further inspiration to those who will be working hard over the next four years to make the London Games a shining example of Olympic success.""The golden triumphs of the present British team can only serve as further inspiration to those who will be working hard over the next four years to make the London Games a shining example of Olympic success."
Honours promised Mr Brown has said the honours system would recognise the success of Great Britain's Olympic team.
London Mayor Boris Johnson will receive the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony which will include an eight-minute slot dedicated to the 2012 Games.
Footballer David Beckham and cyclists Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade will take part, and there will be performances by musicians Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis.
At the same time a handover party will be held outside Buckingham Palace with a concert featuring Will Young, James Morrison, McFly, The Feeling and Scouting for Girls.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in Beijing for the closing ceremony, has said the honours system would recognise the success of Great Britain's Olympic team.
The Cabinet Office said the sports honours committee would meet in September before the New Year's honours list is announced at the end of December.The Cabinet Office said the sports honours committee would meet in September before the New Year's honours list is announced at the end of December.
Britain's Olympians will attend a Downing Street reception on their return to the UK, and a victory parade for the team will be held in London on 16 October.