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Big welcome home for Paralympians Big welcome home for Paralympians
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of flag-waving children have greeted Welsh members of the Paralympics team home in Cardiff Bay. Hundreds of flag-waving children have welcomed Welsh members of the UK's Paralympics team home in Cardiff Bay.
Youngsters from schools in south Wales and Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones were outside the Senedd for the celebration of the athletes' success.Youngsters from schools in south Wales and Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones were outside the Senedd for the celebration of the athletes' success.
Welsh members of the team returned with 10 gold, three silver and one bronze medal from the games in Beijing. Welsh Paralympians returned with 10 gold, three silver and one bronze medal from the games in Beijing.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan recorded a special message to be played on a big screen during the event.First Minister Rhodri Morgan recorded a special message to be played on a big screen during the event.
Pupils from Cardiff, Bridgend, Powys, the Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf were invited to the celebration.Pupils from Cardiff, Bridgend, Powys, the Vale of Glamorgan, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf were invited to the celebration.
Kim Fonseca, 10, who attends St Cuthbert's RC School in Cardiff Bay, said she had enjoyed watching Pontypridd swimmer David Roberts the most and was excited to see the athletes.Kim Fonseca, 10, who attends St Cuthbert's RC School in Cardiff Bay, said she had enjoyed watching Pontypridd swimmer David Roberts the most and was excited to see the athletes.
"It's exciting," she said. "I didn't know it was going to be this crowded."It's exciting," she said. "I didn't know it was going to be this crowded.
"The Paralympics were amazing, they were great," she said.Hundreds of people gathered at the home of the Welsh assembly "The Paralympics were amazing; they were great," she said.The Welsh members of Team GB were welcomed at the Senedd.
Television presenter Angharad Mair started the celebration and paid tribute to the athletes, saying: "They did an absolutely fantastic job out in Beijing representing Team GB, 31 of them - 15% representing Wales."Television presenter Angharad Mair started the celebration and paid tribute to the athletes, saying: "They did an absolutely fantastic job out in Beijing representing Team GB, 31 of them - 15% representing Wales."
The crowds were entertained by Fitzalan High School steel band and Radyr School Choir.The crowds were entertained by Fitzalan High School steel band and Radyr School Choir.
Clifford Baralos, 71, of Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, who with was and his wife Madeleine said: "It's well worth supporting we have got to give these people credit for what they have done. The event included a procession led by a traditional Chinese dragon.
"The swimmer David Roberts was outstanding and what he's done in the past, this isn't the first time he's done it. Clifford Baralos, 71, of Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, who was with his wife Madeleine, said: "It's well worth supporting. We have got to give these people credit for what they have done.
"The swimmer David Roberts was outstanding. This isn't the first time he's done it.
"A lot of able-bodied athletes got more publicity for one gold medal than he's had for four.""A lot of able-bodied athletes got more publicity for one gold medal than he's had for four."
The heritage minister said the athletes performed "fantastically well" in Beijing. Alun Ffred Jones said the athletes performed "fantastically well" in Beijing.
"I'm pleased that we're providing a fitting recognition of how well they have done," he said."I'm pleased that we're providing a fitting recognition of how well they have done," he said.
Ahead of the event, Mr Morgan said: "I hope that thousands of people will turn out to honour our Paralympian athletes just like they did for our Olympians last month. "I'm looking at the banners in front of me and see the words 'congratulations, welcome home our heroes' and that says it all."
"It has been a remarkable games for our Welsh athletes, leading the gold rush that culminated in the GB Paralympian team finishing second in the overall medal table." Thomas Linton, 70, was with his wife Pamela, 68 both from Caerleon, said: "We have been watching it for the last couple of weeks and enjoyed every minute of it and thought we would come down here.
The event included a procession led by a traditional Chinese lion. Thomas Linton, from Caerleon, went to Cardiff Bay to support the athletes.
"We watched the Olympics and think we got a greater kick out of the Paralympics."
Twenty-four of Wales' 31 Paralympians attended the celebration and were greeted with a huge roar from the crowd.
Each of the athletes were then introduced to the crowd individually and were presented with flowers by 12-year-old Harri Jenkins, of Bryncoch, Neath.
Harri, who has cerebral palsy, is a swimmer who hopes to compete at future Paralympics.
The loudest cheer was reserved for swimmer David Roberts, whose four gold medals in Beijing took his Paralympic tally to 11 golds equalling that of Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Pupils from his former school, Bryn Celynnog near Pontypridd, were amongst groups of school children in the crowd.
David Roberts said: "It was amazing, like nothing else I have experienced before.
"It's just an honour to be welcomed like that and hopefully it will inspire more people to take up sport."
Roberts was asked whether he would compete at the 2012 Paralympics in London but was non-committal.
He said he wanted to enjoy his success first but admitted competing in front of a home crowd would be "super, super exciting".
Rhodri Morgan paid tribute to David Roberts and also to Simon Richardson, the cyclist from Porthcawl.
He said: "The Olympic gold rush was kicked off by a cyclist from Wick (Nicole Cooke) and the Paralympics was kicked off by a cyclist from Porthcawl...congratulations on everything you have done - you have really made us all feel proud of you."
The proceedings were wrapped up by a rendition of the national anthem, led by pupils from Radyr.