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| Heroes' welcome for Olympic stars | Heroes' welcome for Olympic stars |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Sarah Bell BBC News | By Sarah Bell BBC News |
| The teams' performances has inspired budding athletes | The teams' performances has inspired budding athletes |
| Almost two months after they returned from Beijing with the best medal haul in 100 years, it was finally time for Team GB to be welcomed home. | Almost two months after they returned from Beijing with the best medal haul in 100 years, it was finally time for Team GB to be welcomed home. |
| Carried on 12 floats and led by the Coldstream Guards, the Olympic and Paralympic teams were saluted by cheering crowds lining the route to Trafalgar Square. | Carried on 12 floats and led by the Coldstream Guards, the Olympic and Paralympic teams were saluted by cheering crowds lining the route to Trafalgar Square. |
| There were plenty of medals on show for those who had gathered to salute the men and women who had brought Olympic fever to the nation for a few proud weeks. | There were plenty of medals on show for those who had gathered to salute the men and women who had brought Olympic fever to the nation for a few proud weeks. |
| And for the athletes, it was their clearest taste yet of the excitement they had generated this summer, 5,080 miles away in China. | And for the athletes, it was their clearest taste yet of the excitement they had generated this summer, 5,080 miles away in China. |
| 'Amazing experience' | 'Amazing experience' |
| As rowing gold-medallist Pete Reed explained: "To see that amount of people here really shows the support which we couldn't see when we were in Beijing. You heard about it, but you didn't really know, as you were in a bubble. | |
| "Today, you looked down from the float and saw the crowd, then looked up at the office windows and saw people hanging out from 10 storeys up, with everybody cheering, it was a three-dimensional, amazing experience. | "Today, you looked down from the float and saw the crowd, then looked up at the office windows and saw people hanging out from 10 storeys up, with everybody cheering, it was a three-dimensional, amazing experience. |
| "It was quite emotional really, a definite highlight for all of us." | "It was quite emotional really, a definite highlight for all of us." |
| James DeGale is currently deciding whether to turn professional | James DeGale is currently deciding whether to turn professional |
| Gold medal-winning boxer James DeGale said the experience matched the moment he was presented with his medal. | Gold medal-winning boxer James DeGale said the experience matched the moment he was presented with his medal. |
| "It was fantastic. People cheering and giving you the thumbs up, it gets me quite emotional." | "It was fantastic. People cheering and giving you the thumbs up, it gets me quite emotional." |
| And could it even swing his decision on whether to turn pro? | And could it even swing his decision on whether to turn pro? |
| "Things like this push me to 2012, to see all the support, it makes you proud to be British," he says. | "Things like this push me to 2012, to see all the support, it makes you proud to be British," he says. |
| On a bright but nippy morning, the crowd of office workers taking a sneaky break from their desks, retired folk, and children sprung from school for the day. | On a bright but nippy morning, the crowd of office workers taking a sneaky break from their desks, retired folk, and children sprung from school for the day. |
| All expressed pride at the team's achievement - and excitement about what could be achieved on home turf in four years' time. | All expressed pride at the team's achievement - and excitement about what could be achieved on home turf in four years' time. |
| Tony Dallanegra, 68, said: "They are all very good; it's something to take your mind off every bad bit of news. We should all get behind them." | Tony Dallanegra, 68, said: "They are all very good; it's something to take your mind off every bad bit of news. We should all get behind them." |
| Alex Verden agreed: "It doesn't cost a lot of money, it's peanuts when compared to the amount they've pumped into the banks in the past few weeks." | Alex Verden agreed: "It doesn't cost a lot of money, it's peanuts when compared to the amount they've pumped into the banks in the past few weeks." |
| 'Blew people away' | 'Blew people away' |
| Triple Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie said the performance of Team GB has definitely helped spark the nation's excitement about 2012. | Triple Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie said the performance of Team GB has definitely helped spark the nation's excitement about 2012. |
| "It blew everyone away. The fact we did well, that makes people more excited about it. That the British team can go out and do better than Australia and Russia, it's amazing, when you think of the size of the country," he said. | "It blew everyone away. The fact we did well, that makes people more excited about it. That the British team can go out and do better than Australia and Russia, it's amazing, when you think of the size of the country," he said. |
| Many athletes said they hoped their achievements may have made a few budding sailors, swimmers or runners aim for the top. | Many athletes said they hoped their achievements may have made a few budding sailors, swimmers or runners aim for the top. |
| We've got the support there to do it again and better it in four years' time. There's no excuse now, it's up to us Pete Reed Rowing gold medalist | We've got the support there to do it again and better it in four years' time. There's no excuse now, it's up to us Pete Reed Rowing gold medalist |
| And speaking to Mikki Austin, 15, from Greensward Academy in Hockley, Essex, it seems they may have succeeded. She hopes to play netball for her country in 2012. | And speaking to Mikki Austin, 15, from Greensward Academy in Hockley, Essex, it seems they may have succeeded. She hopes to play netball for her country in 2012. |
| "It's just a fantastic opportunity for young people to be able to look up to athletes and think 'that could be me one day'," she says. | "It's just a fantastic opportunity for young people to be able to look up to athletes and think 'that could be me one day'," she says. |
| "They're all so down to earth and positive. It gives me the drive to think 'I can do that'." | "They're all so down to earth and positive. It gives me the drive to think 'I can do that'." |
| As Pete Reed said: "Events like today show how big it's going to be. We've got the support there to do it again and better it in four years' time. There's no excuse now, it's up to us." | As Pete Reed said: "Events like today show how big it's going to be. We've got the support there to do it again and better it in four years' time. There's no excuse now, it's up to us." |
| As Team GB gathered on the stage at Trafalgar Square, showered with confetti and deafened by cheers, London Calling by the Clash rang round central London. | As Team GB gathered on the stage at Trafalgar Square, showered with confetti and deafened by cheers, London Calling by the Clash rang round central London. |
| For many it could be seen as a statement of intent for 2012. | For many it could be seen as a statement of intent for 2012. |