The Hero
الأســــــــــــــطورة
- إنضم
- Jun 29, 2008
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Pride of Britain: Boris praises Team GB for 'inspiring a generation' - and beating France, Germany and Australia as Olympic parade in front of ONE MILLION Londoners ends a glorious summer of sport
Potentially the biggest ever sporting victory parade in Britain
90 per cent of British medal winners among 750 athletes carried on 21 floats
Mo Farah, who won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, heptathlon gold medallist Ennis and long jump champion Greg Rutherford - were in the first three floats
Entrance to the Mall was reserved for 14,000 ticket holders
British Airways led a fly-past with the Red Arrows after receiving special permission to fly over The Mall
Downing Street said PM David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers
He said the 'golden summer' would stay in the memories of the entire country in much the same way as the 1966 World Cup winning year
The words Thank You flew noisily over the greatest assembly of British Olympians in history. Down below, up to a million people cheered and applauded and performed the Mo Farah mobot.
London has generated many unforgettable images these last few weeks. Yesterday was right up there with the best of them.
And with that, the curtain finally fell on this astonishing, life-affirming summer which we will forever refer to, simply, as 2012.
Last hurrah: More than a million people filled the streets of London as the heroes of Team GB and Paralympics GB, led by gold medallist Jessica Ennis, paraded through the capital
Britain's finest: Team GB and Paralympics GB line up at the end of the victory parade at Buckingham Palace with Prime Minister David Cameron, the Princess Royal and Mayor of London Boris Johnson at the front
Show-stealer: Boris Johnson, right, promised to keep it short as the hundreds of athletes behind him had been on floats all day waving their way through the capital and not allowed to 'touch a drop of beer'
Spectacular show: After receiving special permission to fly over The Mall the planes dazzled the spectators on the ground
Taking to the sky: The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows perform a fly-past over The Mall and Buckingham Palace
Dancing queen of the velodrome: Cyclist Victoria Pendleton takes a break from Strictly Come Dancing training to join the parade
For 100 days, London and, by extension, the whole country - has lived in a bunting-draped cocoon of exuberance.
And this historic three-month party finished just as it began with a colossal parade through London and a foot-stomping party in front of Buckingham Palace.
At least yesterdays parade had the advantage of being drier and warmer than the great Diamond Jubilee procession along the Thames way back in monsoon June.
But the crowds were of the same bewildering size, shoehorning themselves into every crevice on every pavement from the City of London to the Mall.
And so, too, were the twin sentiments which brought the capital to a euphoric halt once again: a profound sense of pride and an earnest determination not to miss out on a Great Moment.
We have had so many eye-popping theatrical extravaganzas over the last three months with all those open-air concerts, opening ceremonies and closing shows; we have seen more fireworks than a Cantonese pyrotechnics inspector.
Famous landmarks: The Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic display team fly past the Shard over London as a tribute to the Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes
Royal fly-by: A British Airways Airbus aircraft flies over the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace
The fly-past completes the parade with a huge 'Thank you' on the underbelly of the plane
Audience participation: The crowd perform the 'Mobot' with Mo Farah
Double take: The original and best Mo Farah does the Mobot, left, and Princess Anne has go too to the delight of Boris Johnson
Strike a pose: They also did Mo Farah's famous pose when he wins an event - the 'Mobot'
Yesterday was a much simpler and cheaper affair with a very straightforward theme: stick 800 sporting heroes on a convoy of lorries and drive them through the city in the confident expectation that a lot of people might like to see them.
This was an occasion that owed more to the late Eddie Stobart than Danny Boyle. It was probably just as well that the authorities had chosen a school day in the working week for this event. However much it may have irritated the millions of workers and children who couldnt make it, there really wasnt room for so much as an extra coachload.
It was lunch hour in the City as the parade began its business with a royal fanfare at Mansion House. The bankers were certainly out in force. If your share portfolio took a dip yesterday, blame Seb Coe.
It is safe to say that the State Trumpeters of the Household Division have seldom been invited to herald a fleet of articulated trucks. The 21-vehicle convoy had been arranged alphabetically by sport, led by archery and athletics.
The parade at Queen Victoria Memorial, Green Park, with David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Princess Anne make speeches
The National Gallery: Thousands of people line the streets during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB
Floats carrying Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes travel past Trafalgar Square
There was no mistaking the impish figure commanding whoops of recognition on Float Number One. As soon as anyone spotted Mo Farah, their instinctive response was to do the Mobot and replicate the great mans trademark hands-on-head victory routine.
He happily responded in kind over and over again. If it has started to grate, the infectiously good-natured Farah didnt let it show.
When you have acquired two gold medals, two daughters and global renown in the space of a month, whats a couple of hours of repetitive head scratching? The poor man was still cheerfully doing the Mobot as his juggernaut finally halted at the Queens front door shortly before teatime.
There was no order of precedence on each float. Olympians and Paralympians, medallists and wooden spooners, mingled and snapped away and egged each other on.
There were plenty of wisecracks and jokers in the crowd. Divings Tom Daley and the gold-winning long jumper, Greg Rutherford, were both on the receiving end of several marriage proposals.
From St Pauls to Fleet Street to the Strand, the crowds showed little inclination to move on once the convoy had passed and the Band of the Royal Marines had brought up the rear.
The crowd wave as the parade makes its way through London, celebrating Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sporting heroes
The Red Arrows flying down the Mall to the Queen Victoria Memorial during Our Greatest Team parade
These athletes were like the credits rolling at the end of some great blockbuster. You didnt want it to end. You didnt want the lights to come up.
A recurring sight was of athletes filming us filming them, banks of mobile phones and cameras all blazing away in opposite directions.
This lot may have acquired celebrity status but most remain refreshingly oblivious of celebrity etiquette.
Another endearing sight was that of the mounted members of the Metropolitan Police high-fiving the crowds. Despite the hefty numbers, this event was a doddle for the cops.
The crowds were beautifully behaved, as were the athletes. There was no repeat of the 2005 Ashes Victory Parade when some of Englands cricketers were staggering around with beer bottles.
No one looked as if they had been out on the town all night, even though some Paralympians had only grabbed a few hours kip following Sunday nights closing ceremony.
Downing Street announced that Prime Minister David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers to thank them for their dedication.
Fans hold placards as Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes participate in the victory parade
David Cameron talks with Ellie Simmonds before the Athletes Victory parade in London
Potentially the biggest ever sporting victory parade in Britain
90 per cent of British medal winners among 750 athletes carried on 21 floats
Mo Farah, who won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, heptathlon gold medallist Ennis and long jump champion Greg Rutherford - were in the first three floats
Entrance to the Mall was reserved for 14,000 ticket holders
British Airways led a fly-past with the Red Arrows after receiving special permission to fly over The Mall
Downing Street said PM David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers
He said the 'golden summer' would stay in the memories of the entire country in much the same way as the 1966 World Cup winning year
The words Thank You flew noisily over the greatest assembly of British Olympians in history. Down below, up to a million people cheered and applauded and performed the Mo Farah mobot.
London has generated many unforgettable images these last few weeks. Yesterday was right up there with the best of them.
And with that, the curtain finally fell on this astonishing, life-affirming summer which we will forever refer to, simply, as 2012.
Last hurrah: More than a million people filled the streets of London as the heroes of Team GB and Paralympics GB, led by gold medallist Jessica Ennis, paraded through the capital
Show-stealer: Boris Johnson, right, promised to keep it short as the hundreds of athletes behind him had been on floats all day waving their way through the capital and not allowed to 'touch a drop of beer'
Spectacular show: After receiving special permission to fly over The Mall the planes dazzled the spectators on the ground
Taking to the sky: The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows perform a fly-past over The Mall and Buckingham Palace
Dancing queen of the velodrome: Cyclist Victoria Pendleton takes a break from Strictly Come Dancing training to join the parade
For 100 days, London and, by extension, the whole country - has lived in a bunting-draped cocoon of exuberance.
And this historic three-month party finished just as it began with a colossal parade through London and a foot-stomping party in front of Buckingham Palace.
At least yesterdays parade had the advantage of being drier and warmer than the great Diamond Jubilee procession along the Thames way back in monsoon June.
But the crowds were of the same bewildering size, shoehorning themselves into every crevice on every pavement from the City of London to the Mall.
And so, too, were the twin sentiments which brought the capital to a euphoric halt once again: a profound sense of pride and an earnest determination not to miss out on a Great Moment.
We have had so many eye-popping theatrical extravaganzas over the last three months with all those open-air concerts, opening ceremonies and closing shows; we have seen more fireworks than a Cantonese pyrotechnics inspector.
Famous landmarks: The Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic display team fly past the Shard over London as a tribute to the Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes
Royal fly-by: A British Airways Airbus aircraft flies over the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace
The fly-past completes the parade with a huge 'Thank you' on the underbelly of the plane
Audience participation: The crowd perform the 'Mobot' with Mo Farah
Double take: The original and best Mo Farah does the Mobot, left, and Princess Anne has go too to the delight of Boris Johnson
Strike a pose: They also did Mo Farah's famous pose when he wins an event - the 'Mobot'
Yesterday was a much simpler and cheaper affair with a very straightforward theme: stick 800 sporting heroes on a convoy of lorries and drive them through the city in the confident expectation that a lot of people might like to see them.
This was an occasion that owed more to the late Eddie Stobart than Danny Boyle. It was probably just as well that the authorities had chosen a school day in the working week for this event. However much it may have irritated the millions of workers and children who couldnt make it, there really wasnt room for so much as an extra coachload.
It was lunch hour in the City as the parade began its business with a royal fanfare at Mansion House. The bankers were certainly out in force. If your share portfolio took a dip yesterday, blame Seb Coe.
It is safe to say that the State Trumpeters of the Household Division have seldom been invited to herald a fleet of articulated trucks. The 21-vehicle convoy had been arranged alphabetically by sport, led by archery and athletics.
The parade at Queen Victoria Memorial, Green Park, with David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Princess Anne make speeches
The National Gallery: Thousands of people line the streets during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB
Floats carrying Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes travel past Trafalgar Square
There was no mistaking the impish figure commanding whoops of recognition on Float Number One. As soon as anyone spotted Mo Farah, their instinctive response was to do the Mobot and replicate the great mans trademark hands-on-head victory routine.
He happily responded in kind over and over again. If it has started to grate, the infectiously good-natured Farah didnt let it show.
When you have acquired two gold medals, two daughters and global renown in the space of a month, whats a couple of hours of repetitive head scratching? The poor man was still cheerfully doing the Mobot as his juggernaut finally halted at the Queens front door shortly before teatime.
There was no order of precedence on each float. Olympians and Paralympians, medallists and wooden spooners, mingled and snapped away and egged each other on.
There were plenty of wisecracks and jokers in the crowd. Divings Tom Daley and the gold-winning long jumper, Greg Rutherford, were both on the receiving end of several marriage proposals.
From St Pauls to Fleet Street to the Strand, the crowds showed little inclination to move on once the convoy had passed and the Band of the Royal Marines had brought up the rear.
The crowd wave as the parade makes its way through London, celebrating Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sporting heroes
The Red Arrows flying down the Mall to the Queen Victoria Memorial during Our Greatest Team parade
These athletes were like the credits rolling at the end of some great blockbuster. You didnt want it to end. You didnt want the lights to come up.
A recurring sight was of athletes filming us filming them, banks of mobile phones and cameras all blazing away in opposite directions.
This lot may have acquired celebrity status but most remain refreshingly oblivious of celebrity etiquette.
Another endearing sight was that of the mounted members of the Metropolitan Police high-fiving the crowds. Despite the hefty numbers, this event was a doddle for the cops.
The crowds were beautifully behaved, as were the athletes. There was no repeat of the 2005 Ashes Victory Parade when some of Englands cricketers were staggering around with beer bottles.
No one looked as if they had been out on the town all night, even though some Paralympians had only grabbed a few hours kip following Sunday nights closing ceremony.
Downing Street announced that Prime Minister David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers to thank them for their dedication.
Fans hold placards as Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes participate in the victory parade
David Cameron talks with Ellie Simmonds before the Athletes Victory parade in London
