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Warm welcome for Olympic heroes | Warm welcome for Olympic heroes |
(about 16 hours later) | |
By Dan Bell BBC News | By Dan Bell BBC News |
Matthew and Noelle Stallard's son Tom is a rowing silver medallist | Matthew and Noelle Stallard's son Tom is a rowing silver medallist |
After the euphoria of Great Britain's most successful Olympic Games in a century, Team GB got back to some sort of normality in the arms of their loved ones. | After the euphoria of Great Britain's most successful Olympic Games in a century, Team GB got back to some sort of normality in the arms of their loved ones. |
The athletes returned on a special British Airways flight to Heathrow - although fans were asked not to descend on Terminal 5 for health and safety reasons. | The athletes returned on a special British Airways flight to Heathrow - although fans were asked not to descend on Terminal 5 for health and safety reasons. |
The time to get the flags and bunting out will come on 16 October when a victory parade is held in London. | The time to get the flags and bunting out will come on 16 October when a victory parade is held in London. |
Team GB's homecoming was all about family and friends, many of whom had gathered at the Runnymede Hotel in Surrey to welcome them. | Team GB's homecoming was all about family and friends, many of whom had gathered at the Runnymede Hotel in Surrey to welcome them. |
'Fantastic job' | 'Fantastic job' |
However, Matthew and Noelle Stallard, whose son Tom won silver in the men's rowing eight, had made it to the airport. | However, Matthew and Noelle Stallard, whose son Tom won silver in the men's rowing eight, had made it to the airport. |
The couple expressed their immense pride in their son, and the national pride they felt the games had inspired. | The couple expressed their immense pride in their son, and the national pride they felt the games had inspired. |
Mr Stallard said: "It's magical you know, we're both in rowing ourselves so we know what he's been through, so to finish that with a silver is fantastic." | Mr Stallard said: "It's magical you know, we're both in rowing ourselves so we know what he's been through, so to finish that with a silver is fantastic." |
Mrs Stallard added: "Loads of people we know have changed their attitude already to 2012. | Mrs Stallard added: "Loads of people we know have changed their attitude already to 2012. |
"They say they feel proud to be British. I think everybody is now beginning to feel excited by the 2012 idea." | "They say they feel proud to be British. I think everybody is now beginning to feel excited by the 2012 idea." |
They were disappointed that people were not allowed to greet the team at the airport. | They were disappointed that people were not allowed to greet the team at the airport. |
"It's a real shame that they are not going to walk out into a wall of emotion," said Mr Stallard. | "It's a real shame that they are not going to walk out into a wall of emotion," said Mr Stallard. |
His wife added: "His girlfriend is working nights as a doctor at the moment, so she's coming to meet him and then has to go back to work." | His wife added: "His girlfriend is working nights as a doctor at the moment, so she's coming to meet him and then has to go back to work." |
When the team arrived they were greeted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell before heading off to be reunited with their family and friends. | |
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Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington show off their gold medals at Heathrow | |
Despite the advice for the public to stay away, a handful people did travel to Heathrow to try to welcome the athletes. | Despite the advice for the public to stay away, a handful people did travel to Heathrow to try to welcome the athletes. |
Paul Redfern, 53, said this year's Olympics had been the best of his lifetime. | Paul Redfern, 53, said this year's Olympics had been the best of his lifetime. |
"I think this Olympics has grabbed my imagination more than any in the past, and I've watched them since 1968." | "I think this Olympics has grabbed my imagination more than any in the past, and I've watched them since 1968." |
He said that in return he felt a responsibility to support the athletes when they came back. | He said that in return he felt a responsibility to support the athletes when they came back. |
Mr Redfern said he had wanted to tell the team: "Welcome home, fantastic job, by everybody, not just the medal winners, but everybody." | Mr Redfern said he had wanted to tell the team: "Welcome home, fantastic job, by everybody, not just the medal winners, but everybody." |
He wondered if the team had known that people were told to stay away. | He wondered if the team had known that people were told to stay away. |
One fan, eight-year-old Sean McKenna, said he had hoped to meet teenage diver Tom Daley, whose performances had inspired him to take up diving. | One fan, eight-year-old Sean McKenna, said he had hoped to meet teenage diver Tom Daley, whose performances had inspired him to take up diving. |
But, he said with a smile, at the moment his diving style most resembled "a sack of potatoes". | But, he said with a smile, at the moment his diving style most resembled "a sack of potatoes". |
It is the kind of inspiration his mother Karen, a PE teacher, hopes can be capitalised upon in the run-up to 2012. | It is the kind of inspiration his mother Karen, a PE teacher, hopes can be capitalised upon in the run-up to 2012. |
"What I'd like to see is if each head of PE was given 50 tickets just to watch the Games at the end of the year - what a year of teaching!" | "What I'd like to see is if each head of PE was given 50 tickets just to watch the Games at the end of the year - what a year of teaching!" |
Baby joy | Baby joy |
Away from the airport at the hotel, there was a very special reunion for marathon runner Dan Robinson and his pregnant wife Jess, who was two days overdue. | Away from the airport at the hotel, there was a very special reunion for marathon runner Dan Robinson and his pregnant wife Jess, who was two days overdue. |
As she waited for her husband, she said: "I thought when I said goodbye to him at Heathrow three-and-a-half weeks ago he was probably going to miss the occasion but hopefully, fingers crossed, he should be making it back in time." | As she waited for her husband, she said: "I thought when I said goodbye to him at Heathrow three-and-a-half weeks ago he was probably going to miss the occasion but hopefully, fingers crossed, he should be making it back in time." |
Mrs Robinson said the pregnancy gave her the ideal opportunity to watch British success unfold in Beijing. | Mrs Robinson said the pregnancy gave her the ideal opportunity to watch British success unfold in Beijing. |
"It couldn't have come at a better time. Two weeks, lying on the sofa, watching all the events, it's been absolutely fantastic and we've done so well," she said. | "It couldn't have come at a better time. Two weeks, lying on the sofa, watching all the events, it's been absolutely fantastic and we've done so well," she said. |
When they were finally reunited, the runner said: "I'm thrilled that I'm in time and she hasn't had the baby when I'm miles away. It's really exciting." | When they were finally reunited, the runner said: "I'm thrilled that I'm in time and she hasn't had the baby when I'm miles away. It's really exciting." |
For the British team, it was a day for hugs and tears among those they hold closest. Far more public adulation awaits. | For the British team, it was a day for hugs and tears among those they hold closest. Far more public adulation awaits. |
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