Senedd set for Olympian and Paralympian homecoming
13 September 2012
The people of Wales are invited to officially welcome home Wales’s Olympians and Paralympians in a celebration at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay at 16.30 on Friday, 14 September.
As many as forty stars of the London 2012 Games will parade down Pierhead Street in Cardiff Bay before being greeted by the Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM and First Minister Carwyn Jones AM on the steps of the Senedd.
Among the Olympians and Paralympians will be:
Jade Jones, Olympic gold medalist in Taekwondo;
Tom James, Olympic gold medalist in rowing;
Chris Bartley, Olympic silver medalist in rowing;
Mark Colbourne, winner of Paralympic gold and two silver medals in cycling;
Aled Davies, winner of two Paralympic gold and one bronze medals athletics, and;
Josie Pearson, Paralympic gold medalist in athletics.
The Olympians and Paralympians will also be supported on the night by family members, coaches and management from Team GB, Paralympics GB, Sport Wales and Disability Sport Wales.
Games Makers and torchbearers who gave up their time to volunteer, support and promote the London 2012 Games are also invited to come along in their uniforms for a special view of proceedings.
“I personally want to congratulate our Olympians and Paralympians, not only for a stunning medal tally, but also for inspiring the nation,” said Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales.
“Their success has reinvigorated Wales and we wanted, in a small way, to pay tribute to them all while giving the people of Wales an opportunity to show their support too.
“Their dedication, discipline and determination have been an inspiration to us all. In particular, they have been real ambassadors for the youth of Wales.
“I have seen and heard for myself the impact their achievements has had on our young people – in kick-starting their enthusiasm for sports of all kind as well as showing what is possible with effort and determination. We cannot under-estimate the positive effects this will have.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones 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 said:
“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 are 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 Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016.”
People who turn out for the celebration at the Senedd will first be entertained by cultural olympians including the Abergavenny Borough Band and Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir.