Sports

Team GB in Athlete's Parade in London

by Beaulieu | September 10, 2012 at 06:32 am

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Thousands of spectators swarmed to London to see the Athlete's Parade this afternoon.

I went along to St Paul's Cathedral and thousands of city workers walked along Cannon Street in their lunch hour. They were joined by local schools, families, sportsfans and some of the London 2012 volunteers.

I was a volunteer London 2012 'Sportsmaker' supported by Sports England and helped out in one of the Kent Torch Relays. We are supposed to be part of the Legacy of the Olympics to encourage people to take up sport, but we didn't get an invite to the Parade, though it was appreciated that all volunteers did get a thanks at the Closing Ceremony which was all quite moving! Even though it was great, it all felt surreal and 'a bit over the top'.

Despite it raining for about ten minutes it didn't marr the occasion. Sportsfans lent their umbrellas to city workers.

At the end of the Parade, there were group of volunteers waving their flags.

A Big Issue Seller, on the Millennium Bridge,away from the crowds, said he 'didn't watch the Paralympics' and 'didn't know the Parade was on', but was taking full advantage of his position on the Bridge as crowds returned across the Thames. Another spectator said 'the Parade was like a Russian Politbureau'.