Silver-medal canoeist, David Florence, is the latest Olympian to accept an invite to join Sir Chris Hoy and other stars of the London 2012 Games on Edinburgh’s open top bus parade this Sunday. Our photo shows Sir Chris in Holyrood Park only last Saturday.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to line the streets to welcome the athletes home and celebrate their achievements at the Games.
Also confirmed for the event so far are Lynsey Sharp (800m runner), Josh Taylor (boxer), Euan Burton, Chris Sherrington, Sally Conway, Sarah Clark (all judo) and Paralympians Jim Anderson (swimmer) and Kate Murray (archer).
The bus will leave the City Chambers at 2.15pm, inching up the Royal Mile and down the Mound before crossing Princes Street on to Hanover Street. The final leg will see the bus turning right on to George Street, performing a short loop before heading west to its final destination, the Assembly Rooms.
The newly-refurbished and quite spectacular venue will provide a fitting backdrop for Sir Chris Hoy to receive the Freedom of the City in the company of his family, friends and fellow athletes – together with many of the volunteers who gave up their time to make London 2012 such a success.
The ceremony will be followed by a Civic Reception, hosted by the Lord Provost in honour of the athletes’ collective achievements at the Games. The 500 guests will be entertained by the George Watson’s College Chamber Choir, Edinburgh Schools Jazz Band and Big Project Choir.
Lord Provost Donald Wilson said:- “This is our chance to welcome home our Olympic and Paralympic heroes and to celebrate their outstanding achievements at their respective Games. I’m quite sure that the people of Edinburgh will turn out in their thousands to show their appreciation.
“It was very much Sir Chris’ wish that this day be about celebrating with his team mates and I am delighted that many of his fellow sportsmen and women will be joining him on the parade.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
