'Hero' event for Welsh Olympians

Wales' Olympians are being promised a 'spectacular welcome'

A welcome home celebration event is being planned for the Welsh athletes who took part in Team GB at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Gold medal winners Nicole Cooke, Geraint Thomas and Tom James are expected to be among the athletes taking part in the event next Tuesday.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan plans to give the athletes a "heroes' welcome" at a public event in Cardiff Bay.

It is hoped crowds will turn up for the midday event to welcome them back.

Mr Morgan said: "The Welsh members of team GB, led by gold medallists cyclists Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas and rower Tom James, have done the nation proud and their triumphs in China have lifted our spirits during this damp Welsh summer.

"We want people to turn out in their thousands to welcome home the athletes at the Senedd event.

"Nicole Cooke is the first to confirm that she will be there and we are in touch with other Welsh team members in the Olympic Village to make sure they know what a great welcome awaits them.

"Details are still being finalised but a spectacular welcome home is promised for our Welsh Olympians," he added.

Medals

Nicole Cooke, 25, from Wick, Vale of Glamorgan, was the first to put Wales and Britain in the gold medal table with her trademark sprint finish in the women's cycling road race on Sunday, 10 August.

She was also the first Welsh athlete to claim a gold at the Olympics since 1972.

She was followed last Saturday by rower Tom James, 24, from Coedpoeth, Wrexham, who won the Olympic title in coxless fours, after a thrilling late surge.

Cyclist Geraint Thomas, 21, won Wales' third gold as he helped GB's Team Pursuit stars smash their own world record to beat Denmark in the final on Monday.

Tom Lucy, 20, the youngest member of Team GB's rowing squad, won Wales' second Olympic rowing medal when he helped the eight-man crew to silver on Sunday.

On Thursday, swimmer David Davies, dubbed Dai Splash, is racing in the 10km open water swim.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version