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 9 Version 10
London 2012: Huge crowds for Olympics and Paralympics parade London 2012: Flypast honours Olympics and Paralympics athletes
(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 making its way through central London has arrived outside Buckingham Palace.
Thousands of spectators are lining the route for the parade, the day after the end of the London 2012 Paralympics. Thousands of spectators have lined the parade route, the day after the end of the London 2012 Paralympics.
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". Rower Kath Grainger said "we could never have expected this" and swimmer Ellie Simmonds said it was "amazing".
About 800 athletes - more than 90% of Britain's medallists - are travelling on 21 open-top floats through the city. Some 800 athletes are now watching a flypast, led by the BA plane that brought the Olympic flame to the UK.
'Amazing time' It will also feature the Red Arrows.
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". More than 90% of Britain's medallists, including Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, and Jonnie Peacock, have been travelling on 21 open-top floats through the city.
'Golden summer'
They have been grouped by their sports - and travelled 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".
An hour-long event including contributions from London Mayor Boris Johnson and Prime Minister David Cameron will take place at the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
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."
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.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.""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 earlier warned there would be extensive road closures around the route, which started 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, attracted hundreds of fans cheering on the athletes.
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. Speaking from her float, Olympic gold medallist in double sculls rowing 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.
"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.""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."
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."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."
From the equestrian float, GB rider Zara Phillips said: "This is unbelievable. To think everyone has come out for all of us is just amazing. We are so grateful to them."
Paralympic swimmer Simmonds said: "It's amazing... to celebrate with the public, who are the ones that helped us have that home advantage during the 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.
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.
'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 flares.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.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.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."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 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.""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.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."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