LONDON - Huge crowds cheered Britain's Olympic and Paraylmpic athletes during a victory parade to Buckingham Palace yesterday amid hopes that the golden sporting summer will give the country a long-term boost.
Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of central London to show their appreciation for the athletes, who both surpassed expectations by finishing third in the medals table in both events.
Meanwhile leaders hoped the feel-good factor and can-do spirit of the Games would stave off the pessimism of recent times and help drag debt-laden Britain out of recession and into a new era of self-confidence.