City gets chance to thank sports heroes
SWANSEA'S summer of sport is set for one last hurrah with a chance for the city to say a big thank you to our homegrown stars.
While the Olympic and Paralympic Games have gripped offices and schools, streets and squares, across Swansea, leaving us all enthralled by the highs and lows of sport in the fast lane, the competitors are to be officially thanked by way of a civic reception.
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 and more than 100 medals so far at the Paralympics.
Among them is Ellie Simmonds, who as a double gold medallist in the pool, winning the 400 metres freestyle and the 200 metres medley, as well as picking up a 50 metres freestyle bronze, has been one of the stars of the 2012 Paralympics.
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Now the Olchfa School pupil will be honoured along with the likes of Olympic weightlifter Natasha Perdue and swimmer Georgia Davies at a special reception hosted by Swansea Council.
Ellie has already been honoured with a postbox being painted gold in Trawler Road in Swansea and schoolchildren across the city have been making colourful congratulations cards to pass on via the Evening Post's own miniature postbox.
Natasha, a former Swansea Council worker, has been based in Leeds as part of her preparations for 2012.
Georgia Davies and fellow swimmer Jemma Lowe are based at the Wales National Pool, Swansea.
Miss Davies, who did not manage to medal, said: "I'm a bit disappointed at the moment, but my Olympic experience has been unforgettable."
Others include Dai Greene, the GB athletics captain who runs for Swansea Harriers, and Paralympic swimmers Graham Edmunds, Matthew Whorwood, Graham Edmunds, Sam Hynd, Stephanie Millward, Gemma Almond, Ant Stephens and Rob Welbourn.
The exact details of the reception, and whether the public will be able to play a role, have yet to be worked out, but the move is sure to be well supported.
Nick Bradley, the council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "The summer has been lit up with the achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic heroes.
"The likes of Ellie Simmonds have become stars on the world stage and have been fantastic ambassadors for Swansea.
"Everyone in Swansea is proud of their terrific achievements and a civic reception will be a great opportunity for the city to honour them."
Live action from both the Olympic and Paralympic Games were broadcast on Castle Square's big screen in the heart of the town centre.
The move was declared a success and there were often big crowds.
The streets of the city also saw thousands of people lining the route of both the Olympic and Paralympic torch earlier this summer.
geraint.thomas@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514621
Comments
by arnoldlane
Saturday, September 08 2012, 3:39PM
“Great news but remember Ellie was born in Walsall not Wales.”