TEAM GB’s record-breaking Rio 2016 Olympians and Paralympians will be honoured during a national celebratory parade through Manchester on Monday 17 October, before the athletes move on to a second celebration in London on Tuesday 18 October.
Only fitting then that the party should begin in Manchester - the nation’s ‘medals factory’
The exact route and timings are still yet to be finalised, but the parade is expected to begin in the afternoon (most likely after schools let out) and pass down Deansgate and through Albert Square.
Prime Minister Theresa May said she is 'delighted' that the parade will begin in Manchester.
Team GB chief Mark England said the day would mark ‘a very proud moment’ for all involved.
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.
In fact, so crucial was the region to the success of Team GB, that if you removed the medals won by its residents, the UK would fall from second to fourth in the medal table.
Only fitting then that the party should begin in Manchester - the nation’s ‘medals factory’.
Those expected at the parade include Bolton’s six-time Olympic champion, Jason Kenny, four-time gold medal-winner Laura Trott, as well as Team GB hockey captain, Stockport-born Kate Richardson-Walsh, and her team-mate, Nicola White, from Oldham.
Team GB's hockey heroes will join the Manchester paradeJoining them will be Team GB’s Paralympians, who had amassed an incredible 147 medals and 64 golds - the most since 1988 - as the games drew to a close in Rio on Sunday 18 September.
The Paralympians also placed second in the medal table, this time behind China.
Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“As a great sporting city, the home of British cycling and taekwondo and the GB Paralympic swimming team, Manchester is honoured to be hosting the national parade for Team GB and Paralympics GB.
“We look forward to welcoming people from all over the country for a spectacular celebration of the achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic heroes and to share in an unforgettable day.”
Further information on the route and timings is expected in the coming weeks.
Powered by Wakelet
