Swansea ceremony pays thanks to Olympic heroes

A GOLDEN summer of sport has been rounded off in style with a civic thank you to our local athletes and volunteers.

Paralympians, torchbearers and young ambassadors were invited to the Grand Theatre's rooftop café to receive the plaudits of a grateful city.

Among the Paralympians present were Swansea-based boccia player David Smith and table tennis star Paul Karabardak, along with swimmers Graham Edmunds and Gemma Almod.

The area's Olympic stars had been invited but apart from weightlifter Natasha Perdue, sent their apologies.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

As well as the sporting talent, volunteers, known as Games makers, who helped out at the two London-based Games, several torch bearers and young ambassadors for sport were also present.

Council leader David Phillips said in his address: "What an amazing summer it was. It proved, as if proof were needed, that Swansea truly is a city of sport.

"The performances of athletes in sports as diverse as swimming, weight-lifting and table tennis were incredible and I'm sure there will be a new generation inspired to follow in the wake of their local heroes."

Mr Phillips pointed to the fact that the city now had "premiere quality" athletes to go alongside its "premiere quality" football and rugby teams.

He also pointed out that more than 60,000 people had crowded the streets of Swansea for the visit of the Olympic Torch in May.

Swansea sent four athletes to the Olympics and 11 more to the Paralympics.

In total, athletes from Swansea collected 15 medals including two golds and seven silvers. If Swansea had been a country it would have come 38th out of 74 in the final Paralympic medal table.

Overall, there were more medals for Swansea than Sweden and the city was just one behind Japan and two behind New Zealand.