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| 'Heroes' welcome' home for athletes planned at Senedd | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Wales' Olympic and Paralympic competitors are to have a homecoming ceremony next month, First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced. | |
| He said Wales had "played its part" in Team GB's medal haul, with a record seven medals, including three golds for Welsh competitors. | |
| "Everyone in Wales can be truly proud of what our athletes have achieved as part of Team GB," he said. | "Everyone in Wales can be truly proud of what our athletes have achieved as part of Team GB," he said. |
| A "true heroes' welcome" is planned at the Senedd in Cardiff on 14 September. | |
| Cardiff welterweight boxer Fred Evans hoped to earn a fourth Welsh gold but had to settle for silver when he fought in his final on Sunday afternoon. | Cardiff welterweight boxer Fred Evans hoped to earn a fourth Welsh gold but had to settle for silver when he fought in his final on Sunday afternoon. |
| Meanwhile, other Welsh athletes in Team GB were preparing for the closing ceremony of the Games. | Meanwhile, other Welsh athletes in Team GB were preparing for the closing ceremony of the Games. |
| 'Truly inspirational' | 'Truly inspirational' |
| The Olympic Flame will be extinguished, signalling the end of the event, but the Welsh assembly and Welsh government already have plans for a ceremony on the steps of the Senedd in Wales to mark their contribution to the Games' success. | The Olympic Flame will be extinguished, signalling the end of the event, but the Welsh assembly and Welsh government already have plans for a ceremony on the steps of the Senedd in Wales to mark their contribution to the Games' success. |
| Mr Jones said: "Their determination and drive has been truly inspirational and made a huge contribution to Britain's record medal haul." | Mr Jones said: "Their determination and drive has been truly inspirational and made a huge contribution to Britain's record medal haul." |
| Describing London 2012 as "the greatest Games ever" he said: "Wales has played its part, from hosting the training camps of a number of nations ahead of Games, to welcoming the world to the Millennium Stadium for the 11 Olympic football matches. | Describing London 2012 as "the greatest Games ever" he said: "Wales has played its part, from hosting the training camps of a number of nations ahead of Games, to welcoming the world to the Millennium Stadium for the 11 Olympic football matches. |
| "We have strong Welsh links to Team GB's world beating cycling team, who held some of their pre-Games training at the Velodrome in Newport." | "We have strong Welsh links to Team GB's world beating cycling team, who held some of their pre-Games training at the Velodrome in Newport." |
| Sports Minister Huw Lewis said London 2012 would "certainly live long in the collective memory of our small nation". | Sports Minister Huw Lewis said London 2012 would "certainly live long in the collective memory of our small nation". |
| He added: "The success of our Welsh athletes is something we can be extremely proud of and their inspiring performances have already resulted in a noticeable increase in interest at sports clubs up and down the country." | He added: "The success of our Welsh athletes is something we can be extremely proud of and their inspiring performances have already resulted in a noticeable increase in interest at sports clubs up and down the country." |
| 'Courageous performances' | 'Courageous performances' |
| Assembly presiding officer Rosemary Butler promised a "true heroes' welcome home" for the athletes. | |
| She said: "It is the Welsh athletes who have really put Wales on the map with their dedicated, and often courageous performances at all the Olympic arenas. | She said: "It is the Welsh athletes who have really put Wales on the map with their dedicated, and often courageous performances at all the Olympic arenas. |
| "Some have won medals and we are rightly proud of them, but all those Welsh athletes who took part are heroes and role models to us all." | "Some have won medals and we are rightly proud of them, but all those Welsh athletes who took part are heroes and role models to us all." |
| The Paralympics begin at the end of August. | The Paralympics begin at the end of August. |
| Before those Games begin, the replica Olympic rings in front of Cardiff City Hall will be replaced by the three Paralympic "agitos", sweeping curves in red, blue and green. | Before those Games begin, the replica Olympic rings in front of Cardiff City Hall will be replaced by the three Paralympic "agitos", sweeping curves in red, blue and green. |
| On their return from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 10 Welsh members of Team GB took to an open-top bus tour and were greeted by a 2,000-strong crowd in Cardiff Bay. | On their return from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 10 Welsh members of Team GB took to an open-top bus tour and were greeted by a 2,000-strong crowd in Cardiff Bay. |
| James and Thomas were gold medallists in that team along with cyclist Nicole Cooke. | James and Thomas were gold medallists in that team along with cyclist Nicole Cooke. |
| A number of Olympic and Paralympic teams have based themselves in Wales and the Millennium Stadium held the Games' first events, football matches. | A number of Olympic and Paralympic teams have based themselves in Wales and the Millennium Stadium held the Games' first events, football matches. |