The triumphant Olympic team of Great Britain returned home on Monday from Beijing on board an aircraft from British Airways that had a specially-placed golden nose cone. Great Britain’s athletes finished 4th in the table of medals, behind Russia, America, and China, having a total of 19 gold medals, 13 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals, which is their best since 1908.

Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, greeted the team when it touched down just a little after 3 in the afternoon at Heathrow Airport. The plane, which was renamed Pride, had a message on the fuselage stating that it was proud to bring them home. Fans were urged to keep their distance from the airport that day, however, there is a victory parade planned for the athletes in October. Team Great Britain still had a rapturous welcome from the airport’s staff, with Steve Williams, gold medalist rower, saying that they looked out the windows to see everyone waving flags.

After a superb performance from the team in Beijing, an earnest countdown for the London Olympic Games in 2012 has begun. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, received the flag for the Olympics from his counterpart in Beijing at a spectacular closing ceremony on Sunday, while billions of viewers around the globe watched a special 8-minute segment for London, which showed a preview as to what can be expected in 4 years. Handover flags were lifted at over 700 venues internationally, including over 440 in towns throughout the United Kingdom, as part of a civic ceremony to welcome the Olympics of 2012, and London performed an event in celebration of the hand-over.

Find out more on the homecoming at: www.britishairways.com