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The Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales organised a joint welcome home celebration in front of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
The Team GB and Paralympics GB members paraded to the Senedd where they were greeted on the steps by First Minister Carwyn Jones and the Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler.
Entertainment from the Cultural Olympiad, including the Ebbw Vale Choir, Abergavenny Borough Band, folk group Celtic Café and clarinettist Lloyd Coleman, entertained the crowds before the parade. Team GB’s Chef de mission Andy Hunt was also be at the celebrations.
The First Minister said:
“Inspirational, heroic, awe inspiring – just some of the words that can be used to describe what our Olympians and Paralympians have achieved this summer.
“We have seen superhuman feats on the sporting field, moments of achievement that will stay with all of us for the rest of our lives. After all the effort, preparation and dedication our sportsmen and women have put in to make it to the London Games, today is the time to thank them, to show how much we appreciate what they have achieved and the lift they have given to the nation. They rightly deserve to be called our greatest team.”
Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister:
“I have been very proud and honoured to see our athletes perform at both the Olympics and Paralympics, and they have done Wales and Great Britain proud. They have realised their dream of competing at London 2012 and played such in role in taking the public enthusiasm for sport to a whole new level.
“The success of our Paralympians and Olympians means they will deservedly bask in the glow of adulation that will come from the public and politicians alike at the Senedd. They can be doubly proud of not only their own stellar achievements but also to consider themselves part of an unashamedly ambitious Welsh system that will keep building on their successes for many years to come.
“I would encourage as many of the Welsh public as possible to show their support for these sporting heroes, who have showcased their talent in front of the world this summer, and show how much we all value sporting success.”
Jon Morgan, Executive Director, Disability Sport Wales.
“I am delighted that the nation is able to celebrate the success of our Paralympians at the Homecoming in the Senedd. These athletes have been incredibly dedicated for the past four years and now is their chance to shine and receive the recognition they so thoroughly deserve.
“I must pay credit to the all the coaches and support staff involved with these athletes, they do an incredible amount of work behind the scenes identifying and unlocking potential, they are invaluable to our organisation.
“Our aim is now to build on the momentum from London, continuing to identify and nurture new talent through the DSW Academy, going forward to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016.”
