MANCHESTER will today host a celebratory parade for Team GB’s record-breaking Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Team GB athletes.
Team GB won a total of 67 medals and 27 golds in Brazil, whilst the Paralympians took home a total haul of 147 medals
Around 200,000 people are expected to line the route (detailed below), with the procession setting off from the Museum of Science and Industry on Liverpool Road from 4.30pm, and finishing outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square with an event – including a performance by singer Rebecca Ferguson and indie band The Kaiser Chiefs – from 5.30pm (unfortunately fellow X Factor singer Olly Murs has had to pull out).
The event is completely free to attend, but capacity on Albert Square for the finale will be restricted when full (access opens at 3pm).
Elsewhere four big screens across the city will stream the action live. These will be situated in Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square, Cross Street (at the junction of South King Street) and outside the John Rylands Library on Deansgate.
Athlete’s expected at the celebration include Jessica Ennis Hill, Max Whitlock, Dame Sarah Storey, Jade Jones, Nicola Adams, Ellie Simmonds, the Brownlee brothers and Team GB’s Women’s Hockey Team, amongst around 300 others.
WEATHER:
Some sun with showers around 5pm to 7pm.
(courtesy of Accuweather)PARADE DETAILS:
BEGINS - 4.30pm on Liverpool Road
Continue up the length of Deansgate
Turning down Hunts Bank and past Victoria Station
Up Corporation Street through Exchange Square
Then onto Cross Street
ENDS - 5.30pm in Albert Square
Show presented by Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman and Blue Peter’s Helen Skelton, including a performance by singer Rebecca Ferguson.
GETTING THERE:
Metrolink have arranged for extra trams to run along key routes before and after the parade, whilst Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have created 5000 free parking spaces at the Etihad and Old Trafford Stadiums (both are well serviced by the Metrolink).
There will also be 500 free spaces available at Horwich Parkway Train Station near the Macron Stadium, and a further 250 free spaces at the Sale Water Park park and ride.
There will be a number of road closures in the build up to the parade, so TfGM have created this heat map to warn road-users of closures and traffic-heavy areas.
Team GB won a total of 67 medals and 27 golds in Brazil, putting Great Britain second in the medal table with just one more gold than China – the first time the UK has finished above China since 1984.
A staggering 23 of Team GB’s medals came from athletes either born or trained in Greater Manchester – largely due to the remarkable success of the cycling team based at the velodrome in East Manchester.
The Paralympians also took second spot in the final medals table, finshing with a total haul of 147 medals (64 gold) - 27 more medals than they finished with at London 2012.
Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The day is almost upon us and the excitement is palpable in Manchester. We are so proud to host the national parade for our Olympic and Paralympic Heroes and I’d like to encourage as many people as are able to get out into the city centre and cheer on the athletes.
“The event in Albert Square will be a fantastic show and we’re all looking forward to hearing from some of the biggest names of the Games. Albert Square will be busy but there will also be big screens across the city centre, which will give some of the best views of the event.
Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook for live coverage of the event.
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