Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Heroes to be celebrated in Manchester and London on 17 and 18 of October
The incredible performances of Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes at the Rio 2016 Games will be celebrated on October 17 and October 18 in Manchester and London respectively, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has announced.
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Parade for Team GB and ParalympicsGB stars to be held in Manchester on Monday 17 October
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Event in London follows on Tuesday 18 October
The incredible performances of Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes at the Rio 2016 Games will be celebrated on October 17 and October 18 in Manchester and London respectively, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has announced.
Watch highlights from the Manchester and London events:
Manchester and London #GBHeroes’ events highlights
Watch Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes say thank you to all those that supported them during Rio and at the Manchester and London celebrations:
Team GB & ParalympicsGB athletes say THANK YOU for Manchester & London celebrations
The Government is working alongside the British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association, UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Mayor of London’s Office on the details of the parade and celebration event with further information on timings to come.
Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch said:
The achievements of Team GB and ParalympicsGB made the whole country proud so it is only right that we host fitting celebrations to mark their incredible performances in Rio. Our athletes are an inspiration to millions and gave us so many fantastic medal moments that will live long in the memory.
I know that Manchester - a city with a rich sporting history - and London, with its strong links with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will host brilliant celebrations that will give the British public a chance to say thank you to our amazing athlete heroes.
Mark England, Team GB’s Chef de Mission said:
This will be a very proud moment for all Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes and rich reward for such fantastic efforts at the recent Games in Rio.
We appreciate the invitation from Her Majesty’s Government and have no doubt Manchester and London’s celebrations will be a fitting tribute and culmination of an incredible last couple of months.
Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB said:
The ParalympicsGB team have delivered an amazing, awe-inspiring performance in Rio at this Paralympic Games. We have had the most competitive team at the most competitive Games resulting in second place on the medal table with 147 medals, 64 of those gold. We know those performances have excited and energised the public back home and so it is right and fitting that in both Manchester and London the athletes will receive a welcome from those cities and the public can see some of their heroes back on home soil. We believe that the performances of our athletes help to inspire a better world for disabled people.
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport said:
It is fitting that as a nation truly inspired and uplifted by the record-breaking achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes that we get the opportunity to once again show our appreciation to these magnificent sporting heroes who have helped achieve what no nation has ever done and win more medals at the Games post hosting. Our athletes won an outstanding 214 medals, achieving 2nd on their respective medals tables with 91 golds in total. It is an incredible achievement testament to the commitment and belief of the Government in what we set out to achieve and of course the critical investment made possible by National Lottery players.
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 ParalympicsGB.
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. Maybe seeing the stars of Rio on our streets will inspire spectators to follow their own sporting dreams and become the medalists of the future. We’re proud that the elite facilities here, such as the National Cycling Centre in east Manchester, can also be enjoyed by anyone getting into the sport whatever their level.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
The exploits of our Olympians and Paralympians have thrilled the nation and I am delighted to confirm that we are arranging a real heroes’ return in the capital on October 18. It will be an opportunity to thank them, to celebrate their superhuman efforts and to inspire our next generation of athletes to follow in their path.
On Sunday 18 September the Paralympics came to a close in Rio with ParalympicsGB winning 147 medals and finishing second in the medal table. The medal count was the highest since National Lottery funding was introduced for elite athletes in 1997. ParalympicsGB smashed their medal target of 121 medals and won medals across 15 sports.
ParalympicsGB performance followed Team GB’s brilliant second place in the medal table at the Olympic Games. Team GB won 67 medals, making history, as the first ever nation to achieve more medals at an away Games having previously hosted. Also, Team GB won more medals across more sports than at London 2012. At Rio they won medals across 19 sports while in London they won medals across 17 sports.
For further information contact:
Jose Riera
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
020 7211 6971 / 07825 057405