Liverpool’s Olympic heroes are to be honoured at a special civic celebration on Friday.
Out of around 800 athletes who made up Team GB, 33 were either from Liverpool, or trained in the city. To officially recognise their outstanding contribution to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan, will host a civic reception at 3pm on Friday 21 September at the Town Hall.
Those expected to be attending include bronze Olympic medallist Beth Tweddle and fellow gymnast Hannah Whelan who both train at Park Road Lifestyles gym in Toxteth, and Natasha Jonas who made history when she became the first ever British female boxer to compete at an Olympic Games. Joining them will be paralympians David Devine (athletics), Lora Turnham (cycling) and Dan Highcock (wheelchair basket ball).
Each of the sporting stars will receive a scroll recognising their participation in the Games and will be formally thanked by the Lord Mayor for being inspirational ambassadors for the city.
Councillor Sullivan said: “This special reception is a chance for me to thank and congratulate these sports stars on behalf of the city.
“This has been a bumper sporting summer and for athletes from, or connected, to Liverpool to be part of the biggest Games in the world makes me hugely proud.
“These individuals are an inspiration to us all and as a result of their outstanding achievements, I am sure they have encouraged a huge number of people, young and old, to get active which is a fantastic legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics.
“It will be an honour to meet these members of Team GB and we will give them a champions welcome they deserve.”
Also attending the event will be a number of up and coming Liverpool sporting stars who hope to follow in the footsteps of their Olympic heroes and heroines.
The city’s athletes have helped to light up London 2012 as part of the record-breaking Team GB that won 29 gold medals at the Olympics (65 in total) and 34 gold medals at the Paralympics (120 in total).
