Britain’s victorious Paralympians have arrived back in the United Kingdom – as it is confirmed a homecoming parade for Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic stars will be held in Manchester on 17 October.
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It will be followed by a grand celebration in London the following day.
The team will join Britain’s Olympic athletes for a parade in Manchester on October 17 to celebrate their success at the Rio 2016 Games.
In an announcement made this morning, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said the achievements of both teams “made the whole country proud so it is only right that we host fitting celebrations to mark their incredible performances in Rio”.
‘As shown with its outstanding coverage of Rio 2016, Channel 4 continues to set the global benchmark for how Paralympic sport should be covered by a broadcaster, ‘ said IPC president Sir Philip Craven.
Cyclists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny were among the heroes at the Olympics, along with Mo Farah, victor of the the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres double for the second Games in a row, and the women’s hockey team, who stunned reigning champions The Netherlands with a shootout victory in the final.
The equestrian rider Lee Pearson, who won his 11th gold medal as well as a silver in Rio, said he was surprised by the huge reception: “I think I was one of the first through, the screaming was petrifying and humbling at the same time”.
The Rio Games saw ParalympicsGB win 64 golds, the most by a British team since 1988, and a total of 147 medals.
The most-decorated British Paralympian in British history with 14 gold medals, Dame Sarah Storey, told Sky News the reception at Heathrow had been fantastic: “It’s been wonderful”.
The 42-year-old politician won two gold medals at the 2016 games and now has a total of five gold career Paralympic medals.
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“The ParalympicsGB team have delivered an fantastic, awe-inspiring performance in Rio at this Paralympic Games”, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said.
