Manchester to host Olympics and Paralympics homecoming parade
Last Updated: 20/08/16 11:06am
Manchester has been chosen to stage a homecoming parade "fit for heroes" for Team GB's triumphant Olympic and Paralympic stars.
The city will host the celebration in October once the Paralympians have returned from the Games in Rio, Prime Minster Theresa May has announced. An additional national event will then take place in London.
"It will be a celebration fit for heroes - and rightly so, because that is exactly what they are," May said.
The decision to award the parade to Manchester follows calls for it to be held outside London to reflect the nationwide contribution to Team GB's spectacular medals haul.
Parades for the last three Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2012 were all held in London. The decision will come as a disappointment to Leeds and Leicester, who had both bid for the celebration.
However, Manchester City Council deputy leader Sue Murphy said the decision reflects the fact the city has been a "medals factory" in this Olympic Games.
"On behalf of the whole of Manchester, we couldn't be more thrilled to host the national parade for our Olympic and Paralympic heroes," May said. "We will be sure to show our athletes the meaning of celebration.
"The city has been a medal factory, pumping out golds as the home of British Cycling and British Taekwondo. "It's fantastic to see the product of years of hard work and training at the centres of excellence in east Manchester."
