School children take time out of classes to celebrate Britain's Olympians. (Getty Images)Thousands of Britons filled the streets on Thursday to celebrate the U.K.'s Olympic athletes. From the City of London, past St. Paul's Cathedral and to a packed Trafalgar Square, crowds lined the streets to recognize more than500 athletes' achievements in Beijing and look forward to 2012.
The U.K. had their best showing in about a century at the Beijing Olympics, bringing home 47 medals, fourth in the standings. Second behind China, British Paralympians had greater success, gaining 102 medals.
Cyclist Chris Hoy, the first Briton to win three medals at one Games in 100 years, said, "It's unbelievable and great to see so much positivity. It's the stuff of dreams."
Diving prodigy Tom Daley also shared his awe at the crowds. "The amount of people that have turned up for the parade, it just shows how great Britain is for supporting people.
"I'm sure in London 2012 it will be the best Olympics ever."
However, London Mayor Boris Johnson cautioned that Olympics-fever could die down in the coming months as the nation prepared for 2012 amid a global financial crisis.
"I am not going to pretend for a second that this is going to survive to 2012.
"This is going to have its up and downs particularly as we get into a downturn - Olympo-cynicism will return." Cyclist Chris Hoy signs autographs for fans in Trafalgar Square. (Getty Images)
Organizers have been meeting recently to discuss revamping venue plans for 2012 in an attempt to bring costs under $17 billion, a fraction of China's budget.
Following the festivities in Trafalgar Square, the athletes were hosted at a reception by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal, who is president of the British Olympic Association.
"She [the Queen] is the most iconic figure in the UK and to have her spend a couple of minutes talking to you is fantastic. It is something that I will be able to tell my grandchildren, remarked 400-meter Olympic sprinter Christine Ohuruogu.
Some critics questioned why the parade was held in October instead of immediately after the Olympians returned. The Mayor's Office reported that the event was scheduled to coincide with the reception at Buckingham Palace.
London Mayor Boris Johnson cautions that "Olympo-cynicism" will return. (Getty Images) "I've heard today there are some people on the telly who have been asking why we are holding this parade in mid-October when the leaves are falling and shares are crashing," Johnson remarked from the podium.
"The answer is, of course, there is never a wrong time to celebrate the greatest achievement by a British Olympic and Paralympic team since 1908."
Written by
Trista McGlamery
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