This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19540587

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
London 2012: Huge crowds for Olympics and Paralympics parade London 2012: Huge crowds for Olympics and Paralympics parade
(35 minutes later)
A victory parade of hundreds of British Olympic and Paralympic athletes is making its way through central London.A victory parade of hundreds of British Olympic and Paralympic athletes is making its way through central London.
Thousands of spectators are lining the route for the parade, the day after the end of the London 2012 Paralympics.Thousands of spectators are lining the route for the parade, the day after the end of the London 2012 Paralympics.
About 800 athletes - more than 90% of Britain's medallists, including Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Hannah Cockcroft and Jonnie Peacock - are travelling on 21 open-top floats through the city. Sailor Ben Ainslie said he was "blown away by the support", while swimmer Ellie Simmonds said she hoped the Games would "inspire the next generation".
Prime Minister David Cameron said it had been a "golden summer" for the UK. About 800 athletes - more than 90% of Britain's medallists - are travelling on 21 open-top floats through the city.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Cameron said: "At the end of the most unbelievably successful Olympics and Paralympics, I just want to say what a golden summer of British sport it has been, and what a golden summer it's been for our country. 'Amazing time'
"I think it's given the country a tremendous lift, I think it's brought the country together." They are grouped by their sports - travelling in alphabetical order with archers and athletes on the first floats, and weightlifters and the water polo team at the rear - for what is being called "The Greatest Team Parade".
Ahead of the parade, six-time gold medal-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy said: "This isn't really for us, this is for [the public] because they've made the Games. Six-time gold medal-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy said: "This isn't really for us, this is for [the public] because they've made the Games.
"They've made the atmosphere, they've supported the athletes, not just in the venues, but through the streets, and the pubs, the public venues - it's been incredible. So it's our chance to give them a wave and a thank you for all the support they've given us.""They've made the atmosphere, they've supported the athletes, not just in the venues, but through the streets, and the pubs, the public venues - it's been incredible. So it's our chance to give them a wave and a thank you for all the support they've given us."
The athletes are grouped in their individual sports on the floats - traveling in alphabetical order with archers and athletes first and weightlifters and the water polo team at the rear - for what is being called "The Greatest Team Parade". After meeting a group of London 2012 Games Makers at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "At the end of the most unbelievably successful Olympics and Paralympics, I just want to say what a golden summer of British sport it has been, and what a golden summer it's been for our country.
"I think it's given the country a tremendous lift, I think it's brought the country together."
More details on the victory paradeMore details on the victory parade
Parade organisers have warned there will be extensive road closures around the route, which starts from Guildhall, in the City of London, and ends at The Mall.Parade organisers have warned there will be extensive road closures around the route, which starts from Guildhall, in the City of London, and ends at The Mall.
A big screen with live commentary, at the base of Nelson's Column, near the end of the route in Trafalgar Square, is expected to attract hundreds of fans cheering on the athletes.A big screen with live commentary, at the base of Nelson's Column, near the end of the route in Trafalgar Square, is expected to attract hundreds of fans cheering on the athletes.
The BBC's Ian Westbrook, in the square, said: "There are two groups of people in the Trafalgar Square area - those who are packing the streets surrounding the square to watch the parade first-hand, and those in the square who have chosen to watch on the big screen. Speaking from her float, Olympic gold medallist in double sculls rowing, Katherine Grainger, said: "We never really knew how many people would turn up, maybe we thought people would have gone back to work or been fatigued by the last month. But my word, we could never have expected this.
"Both areas are crowded and, in the square, blue foam hands are being given out to spectators." "It is an amazing time to have a celebration with the Paralympic athletes too and a chance to say thank you to all the fans."
He added: "The steps into Trafalgar Square are being sat on by rows and rows of Games Makers in their familiar purple uniforms. London 2012 double bronze medallist Rebecca Adlington - who has been travelling on the swimming float - said: "It's very noisy and crazy down here. We're not far in yet - we're on number 17 so we're quite far at the back. It is incredible. It is so loud."
"Every so often they try to start a Mexican wave but it doesn't take off - it's the only thing that hasn't worked for them all Games."
'Invaluable contribution''Invaluable contribution'
An area along The Mall, overlooking the parade finish, has been reserved for ticket-holders who made "an invaluable contribution to the Games and the success of our athletes", including 14,000 volunteers, members of the emergency services, military personnel, competitors' coaches, support staff, family and friends, as well as schoolchildren from every London borough.An area along The Mall, overlooking the parade finish, has been reserved for ticket-holders who made "an invaluable contribution to the Games and the success of our athletes", including 14,000 volunteers, members of the emergency services, military personnel, competitors' coaches, support staff, family and friends, as well as schoolchildren from every London borough.
A small but growing group of fans, wrapped in union flags, is gathering outside Mansion House where the parade is due to start in a few hours.
Christine Gammons from Folkestone has been here since 07:00 BST. "This is history, we're not going to see this again, it's all been amazing," she says.
"How are we going to cope without it?"
Fellow early birds Donna and Peter Wyatt (pictured) travelled up from Weston-super-Mare by coach on Sunday. They came just for the parade but have had a whirlwind 24 hours, catching David Weir in the marathon and then bumping into Mo Farah.
"I held his medal," says Donna proudly. "This is the icing on the cake to a brilliant summer," she adds, saying she expects to lose her voice today.
"That'll be a bonus," chuckles Peter.
Olympic diving bronze medallist Tom Daley said: "Today really for me is about, and for the whole team, about going round and giving something back to all the sporting fans, all the people that supported us at the Olympic Games, at the Paralympic Games.Olympic diving bronze medallist Tom Daley said: "Today really for me is about, and for the whole team, about going round and giving something back to all the sporting fans, all the people that supported us at the Olympic Games, at the Paralympic Games.
"Hopefully, if we get lots of people out here today, it just really does give you a last kick of the Olympic buzz before it all finishes.""Hopefully, if we get lots of people out here today, it just really does give you a last kick of the Olympic buzz before it all finishes."
The celebrations include a flypast over The Mall, led by the British Airways plane that brought the Olympic flame to the UK and also featuring the Red Arrows.The celebrations include a flypast over The Mall, led by the British Airways plane that brought the Olympic flame to the UK and also featuring the Red Arrows.
Dame Kelly Holmes, double Olympic gold medallist, said: "It's a fantastic day - I remember coming back in 2004 and you're going through the streets of London on the floats waving to the crowds.
"It is a shame it's a Monday so the school kids can't see them but, you know, the public have just done us so proud at these Games and I have to say that these Games are so special because of everybody just getting so involved."
'Changed forever''Changed forever'
Sunday's Paralympics closing ceremony, billed as a "festival of flame", saw Coldplay play songs from their five albums while disabled and non-disabled dancers performed with flames around the burning face of a "sun king". Sunday's Paralympics closing ceremony, billed as a "festival of flame", saw Coldplay play songs from their five albums while disabled and non-disabled dancers performed with flares.
The normally businesslike and be-suited streets of the City were transformed into a cheering sea of red, white and blue.
Spectators roared names of Olympians and Paralympians alike as the floats glided past, and the sun came out at last to make those medals gleam ever brighter.
"Greg, Greg, Greg," they shouted as the smiling long-jumper Rutherford waved, holding his gold aloft on the third truck. "Ellie, woohoo" as Simmonds went past.
"I was born in 1948 so I felt I had to be here," said Erica Bright from Hampshire.
"I've grown to adore this Olympics, it's perfection, a utopian world with lots of lovely people everywhere."
Jane Dickinson and her mother Irene, 75, had caught the 6am train from Blackpool.
"It's our piece of the Olympics, so wonderful," said Jane.
The sold-out finale also featured performances from pop star Rihanna, rapper Jay-Z and a cast of around 1,200 performers on three circular stages - Summer, Winter and the Sundial.The sold-out finale also featured performances from pop star Rihanna, rapper Jay-Z and a cast of around 1,200 performers on three circular stages - Summer, Winter and the Sundial.
Channel 4's coverage of the ceremony drew an average audience of 5.9 million, a quarter of the total TV audience at the time, and peaked at 7.7 million viewers - according to early "overnight" viewing figures.Channel 4's coverage of the ceremony drew an average audience of 5.9 million, a quarter of the total TV audience at the time, and peaked at 7.7 million viewers - according to early "overnight" viewing figures.
The broadcaster's coverage of the final day's action also made it the most-watched channel on Sunday, beating BBC One and ITV1.The broadcaster's coverage of the final day's action also made it the most-watched channel on Sunday, beating BBC One and ITV1.
Declaring the 2012 Paralympics closed, International Paralympic Committee president, Sir Philip Craven, said: "These Games have changed us all forever."Declaring the 2012 Paralympics closed, International Paralympic Committee president, Sir Philip Craven, said: "These Games have changed us all forever."
He said they had been "unique and, without doubt, in my mind and those of the athletes, the greatest Paralympic Games ever".He said they had been "unique and, without doubt, in my mind and those of the athletes, the greatest Paralympic Games ever".
Speaking to the 80,000-strong crowd, organising committee chairman Lord Coe said the UK would "never think of sport the same way and we will never think of disability the same way.Speaking to the 80,000-strong crowd, organising committee chairman Lord Coe said the UK would "never think of sport the same way and we will never think of disability the same way.
"The Paralympians have lifted the cloud of limitation.""The Paralympians have lifted the cloud of limitation."
Lord Coe added: "Finally, there are some famous words you can find stamped on the bottom of a product. Words, that when you read them, you know mean high quality, mean skill, mean creativity.Lord Coe added: "Finally, there are some famous words you can find stamped on the bottom of a product. Words, that when you read them, you know mean high quality, mean skill, mean creativity.
"We have stamped those words on the Olympic and Paralympic games of London 2012."We have stamped those words on the Olympic and Paralympic games of London 2012.
"London 2012. Made in Britain.""London 2012. Made in Britain."
China finished top of the Paralympic medals table, with 231 medals - 95 gold. Great Britain cemented third place, behind Russia, with a tally of 120, including 34 golds.China finished top of the Paralympic medals table, with 231 medals - 95 gold. Great Britain cemented third place, behind Russia, with a tally of 120, including 34 golds.
After the Paralympic flag was passed to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, performers from Rio - which will stage the Games in 2016 - put on a colourful performance fusing hip-hop, freestyle and samba, performed by disabled and non-disabled dancers.After the Paralympic flag was passed to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, performers from Rio - which will stage the Games in 2016 - put on a colourful performance fusing hip-hop, freestyle and samba, performed by disabled and non-disabled dancers.
Will you be going to the London victory parade? You can send us your comments, photos, and videos using the form below.Will you be going to the London victory parade? You can send us your comments, photos, and videos using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions