Thousands gather in Manchester to honour Britain’s most successful Olympics of modern times – Daily Mail
Wearing sparkly hats and waving Union flags, more than 150,000 well-wishers gathered on the streets of Manchester today to celebrate Team GB’s stunning performance in Rio.
Excited fans draped in red, white and blue waited for hours along the parade route as they prepared to welcome Britain’s triumphant Olympian and Paralympians to the city.
Matt Whitlock, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Ellie Simmonds were among the sporting stars taking part in the procession, which ended with a massive party in front of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square.
However a number of high-profile names are notably missing from the line-up, including cycling golden couple Laura and Jason Kenny, who are believed to be still on honeymoon.
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Wearing sparkly hats and waving Union flags, more than 150,000 well-wishers gathered on the streets of Manchester today to celebrate Team GB’s stunning performance in Rio
Matt Whitlock, Jessica Ennis-Hill (left) and Katherine Grainger (right) were among the sporting stars taking part in the procession, which ended with a massive party in front of Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square
Great Britain’s Paralympic swimmer Ellie Robinson is interviewed on a stage in front of Manchester Town Hall
Ticker tape fills the air as members of Team GB celebrate on stage outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square
Alistair and Jonny Brownlee (right) are interviewed by presenter Helen Skelton on stage during the Olympic and Paralympic athletes celebration parade
Olympic star Jessica Ennis-Hill, who retired from athletics last week, takes a selfie during the Olympic parade in Manchester
Double Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock strikes a pose in front of ecstatic fans in Birmingham, who were out in force
The 30-year-old shows off the silver medal she won in Rio this summer as she thanks fans for their support
Brothers Jonny Brownlee (left) and Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain pose with their gold and silver medals from Rio
Despite the rain, Ellie Simmonds and friends were still able to raise some big smiles if this selfie is anything to go by
Rebecca Ferguson (centre) sings on stage as Olympic and Paralympic athletes watch on and have fun in the background
Jessica Ennis-Hill waves to waiting crowds as she takes part in the parade alongside her fellow Team GB sporting stars
Maddie Hinch posted this selfie on her Twitter page, as she and her fellow hockey teammates showed off their gold medals
The Team GB lion mascot leads the Olympians and Paralympians through Manchester, as a recap of British successes in Rio are played on the big screen
Jazmin Sawyers took a cheeky selfie while on the stage, with Mark Chapman and Jessica Ennis-Hill photobombing in the background
Fan favourite and back to back Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams points to the crowd as she is interviewed by Helen Skelton (left)
Union flags are waved in the crowd as the Olympians and Paralympians makes their way on to the stage one by one
Jonathan Brownlee, who won a silver medal in the men’s triathlon, poses for a selfie with his brother Alistair, who brought home the gold in the same event
Team GB collected 27 golds among their medal total of 67 – two more than from London 2012 – for their best-ever haul from an overseas Olympics
Team GB golden girl Jessica Hill-Ennis, who announced her retirement this month, leads the athletes on to the stage
Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain smiles as she joined Mark Chapman on stage at Albert Square in front of a jubilant crowd
Joanna Roswell Shand posted this selfie to her Twitter page as she posed alongside fellow Team GB athletes in the rain
Team GB’s Harriet Lee takes a selfie with the fans in the background – as she proudly displays her silver medal
Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, centre, waves to the crowds as the Team GB heroes are welcomed to Manchester
Joe Clarke is joined by fellow British athletes Richard Hounslow and David Florence in a cheeky selfie from the stage
Members of the Team GB athletics squad pose for a photo as they prepare to take part in the victory parade in Manchester
Flag-waving well-wishers lined the streets of Manchester as they waited for the athletes’ parade this evening
The Team GB Lion float makes leads the parade through a damp Birmingham – but thousands of wellwishers braved the conditions to cheer on the Olympians
Hundreds of thousands of fans were in attendance for the parade, lining the route as the athletes waved back to them
Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden and Jade Jones pose for a selfie (left), while Jonnie Peacock (right) waves to the crowd
Ellie Simmonds, Ellie Robinson and Alice Tai parade their medals during the celebrations in a rainy Manchester
Sir Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s most decorated Olympian, is also missing the parade in Manchester. The 36-year-old is currently at the centre of controversy surrounding the use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE), which allows athletes to use banned substances if there is a genuine medical need. Sir Bradley denies any wrongdoing.
Track superstar Mo Farah, who completed a second Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres double, is also expected to skip out on the celebratory tour.
The event in Manchester is the first of back-to-back ‘heroes parades’ to toast Great Britain’s phenomenal success, with the second celebration being held in London on Tuesday.
Harriet Lee of Great Britain poses for a selfie with a gleeful fan during the first of two victory celebrations this week
Both British squads finished second in their respective medal tables at this summer’s Games.
Team GB collected 27 golds among their medal total of 67 – two more than from London 2012 – for their best-ever haul from an overseas Olympics. The Paralympics GB squad returned with 147 medals, including 64 golds.
Among those who turned out to welcome the athletes was Sarah Jarvis, 48, from Manchester. She said: ‘We wanted to make sure they got such a fantastic welcome so came down early to get a good spot.
Prime Minister Theresa May (centre) happily applauds athletes alongside former Olympian Sebastian Coe (right)
Both British squads finished second in their respective medal tables at this summer’s Games, making it one of the best years ever in terms of final placings
Ricky Wilson of The Kaiser Chiefs performs with his band as part of a special concert to coincide with the parade
It’s a thumbs up from Sarah Storey (pictured right), who is joined by fellow multiple medallist Kadeena Cox on a float
The Team GB float makes its way through Manchester for the official celebration parade, following a record-breaking Rio games
Celebration: Map shows the route the Olympic parade will take through Manchester city centre this afternoon
Dame Sarah Storey, left, waved to well-wishers who gathered on the streets of Manchester in the rain. Right, one sports fan
One enthusiastic supporter wore her Team GB top with a Union flag and matching Union hat as she waited for the parade
Sporting sparkly gold hats and gold wigs, dozens of well-wishers waited for the athletes along the route in Manchester
The event in Manchester is the first of back-to-back ‘heroes parades’ to toast Great Britain’s phenomenal success, with the second celebration being held in London on Tuesday
‘We felt it was important to come down and show our support because these are normal human beings, who could even be your neighbour, who have inspired so many people with their hard work and dedication.
‘They’ve chased their dreams and achieved it – they are a true inspiration. We’re here to show we appreciate all their hard work.’
Gym instructor Joanne Holgate, 42, travelled from her home in Silver Dale, in the Lake District to watch the parade with her father Alan Shepherd and daughters Rebecca, 14, and Katie, 10.
She said: ‘It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, we came to give our support and give them a wave. Over the summer the Olympics were on all the time at our house. They did so well – they outdid themselves.
Labourers take a break from a long day at work to enjoy the parade as it makes its way down Deansgate in Manchester
Bianca Walkden, left, who won bronze in taekwando, and Jade Jones, who won gold in the sport, before the parade today
Boxers Nicola Adams and Lawrence Okolie pose as they wait in a green room before the parade through Manchester
Alan Dargan, 40, from Droylsdon, Greater Manchester, watched the procession with wife Diane, 37, son Ben, 12, and daughter Amy, 10. Mr Dargan said: ‘My Olympic highlight, and I’ll be keeping my eye out for them today, were the Brownlee brothers especially when he carried his brother across the finishing line.
‘What’s great is anyone can watch these sports – there’s no restriction based on race, colour, ability or disability. You can all sit and watch your heroes.’
Grant Campbell and his family made a 430-mile round-trip from Glasgow to see the parade. Mr Campbell said: ‘We came down early because we wanted to get a good view. We followed the Olympics all summer and really enjoyed it.’
Union flags, Lottery foam fingers and sparkly hats were all at the ready ahead of the celebratory event on Monday evening
Great Britain scarves, Union flags, jester hats, foam fingers and replica gold medals were all on offer from this street stall
As many as 200,000 people are expected to gather along the parade route as they welcome Team GB athletes
Two women get into the festive spirit with gold hats and matching wigs as they cheer and shout ahead of the parade
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