manchesterwired
England
London 2012: Praise for Team GB's first medallists
Published: 30th Jul 2012 02:03:50
Residents of the home towns of Team GB's first London 2012 medallists have hailed their wins as a "massive achievement" and "an inspiration".
Otley cyclist Lizzie Armitstead won silver and Mansfield swimmer Rebecca Adlington bronze on Sunday.
Meanwhile, commuters are being warned of possible delays on Monday: the Games' first full working day.
And organisers say security has not been compromised by the loss of a set of security keys for Wembley Stadium.
The keys were being used by police officers during searches of the stadium ahead of the Games last week.
This is an embarrassing security blunder that may well be the fault of police.
Scotland Yard said internal security keys for Wembley Stadium, which is hosting nine Olympic football matches, were reported missing last Tuesday.
The keys were being used by officers to search the venue as part of the Olympic policing operation. Specialist police teams were called in to locate the keys but they couldn't be found.
Detectives said there was no evidence they'd been stolen. The Games organisers Locog said that as a result locks at the venue had to be changed.
The cost has not been disclosed but it's likely to run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Although staff from G4S have been working at Wembley the company has denied any involvement in the disappearance of the keys.
A London 2012 official said the locks had been changed and security "had not been compromised in any way".
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says it is an embarrassing blunder that may have been the fault of the police.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said that key areas of the venue were immediately secured and detectives went to the scene to ascertain if there was any "evidence of criminal offences".
"There's none at this time," she said.
Armitstead, 23, from Otley near Leeds, West Yorkshire, was beaten to the gold at the end of the 140-kilometre race by Holland's Marianne Vos in a sprint finish on The Mall on Sunday.
She later tweeted a picture of her silver medal saying: "To my friends and family who travelled from Otley, you deserve a piece of the medal! I have so many thank yous to make!"
Otley displayed Olympic flags along its High Street.
Resident Ian Stephens said Armitstead's medal win meant "a terrific amount" to the town. "Lizzie is very important, she has done well to get a medal today," he said.
Peter Middlebrooke of Otley Cycle Club said: "You never think an Olympic medallist will come from your town."
He added: "As a club, and I'm sure as a town, we'll recognise this massive achievement somehow."
Friends and well-wishers of swimmer Rebecca Adlington gathered at a leisure centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, to watch her compete in the 400m freestyle in London.
Former coach Ian Negus said the 23-year-old's third place set her up well for the 800m, which will begin with heats on Thursday.
Adlington had set "a fine example" to the team at her former club, Sherwood, he said.
Swimmer Owen Ottaway, aged 11, said he would like to take part in the Olympics one day "just like her". "She inspires me and makes me think if she can do it so can I," he said.
Adlington tweeted that she was so happy that it was "unreal".
"I know so many people wanted me to get the gold and sorry about that, but I tried my absolute hardest, I'm so pleased with that."
There will be transport restrictions around 10 sports venues in London on the first working day of the Olympic games on Monday.
Organisers anticipate one million extra visitors in London to make some three million journeys on public transport - on top of the city's daily staple 12m public transport journeys.
Those intending to travel in the city are warned to leave extra time for their journeys and plan ahead by using the Games' dedicated transport advice website.Praise for first GB medal winners
In other Olympic developments:
Harvard Citation
BBC News, 2012. London 2012: Praise for Team GB's first medallists. [Online] (Updated 30 Jul 2012)Available at: http://www.manchesterwired.co.uk/news.php/1443365-London-2012-Praise-for-Team-GBs-first-medallists [Accessed 11th May 2013]
Latest News
-
At 21:50:33 in Other
Immigration officers make eight arrests in Northern Ireland
Eight people have been arrested in Northern Ireland within the last 24 hours by immigration enforcement officers from the Home Office.... -
At 19:06:48 in Other
Salford prison van fugitive Ryan McDonald caught
The second of two men being hunted by police after a prison van escape on 30 April has been recaptured, Greater Manchester Police have said.... -
At 14:17:45 in Other
Man held over alleged assault at Royal Northern College of Music
A man has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault as part of a police investigation into historical sexual abuse at a Manchester musi... -
At 14:15:43 in Other
Warrington Council urges HS2 plan re-think
The proposed route for the new HS2 train line, bypassing Warrington, will have a negative impact on the town's economy, councillors hav... -
At 11:17:34 in Other
Operation Chalice child prostitution investigation ends
The High Court has upheld a decision by a judge that a man accused of child sex abuse offences whose trial collapsed is mentally unfit to st... -
At 11:14:46 in Other
Man charged over attempted rape in Greater Manchester
A man has been charged with the attempted rape of a woman in the Radcliffe area in Greater Manchester. ... -
At 08:05:39 in Other
National Eisteddfod: Call to hold festival in England every 10 years
Organisers of the National Eisteddfod should consider holding the event in England to widen its appeal, according to two politicians. ... -
At 04:33:45 in Other
UWE Bristol campus hotel proposals are deferred
Councillors have deferred a decision over plans for a 200-bed hotel on a university campus in Bristol.... -
At 03:01:03 in Other
Former Archbishop of York 'did not report' sexual abuse claims
Sexual abuse complaints against a Church of England cleric were not referred to police by then Archbishop of York, David Hope, it has emerge... -
At 22:09:38 in Other
Smithills Open Farm: Offers of help for torched Bolton attraction
A Bolton animal farm torched in an arson attack has been "inundated" with offers of help from around the world. ...
News In Other Categories
-
Bid to make Cairngorm funicular walks permanent
Guided walks from the Cairngorm mountain railway's top station on to the Cairn Gorm plateau could be made available on a more permanent... -
Smart meter project is delayed
The introduction of energy smart meters in 30 million UK homes will be delayed for more than a year, the government has announced.... -
Star Wars: Episode VII to be filmed in UK
The latest Star Wars film is to be made in the UK, producer Lucasfilm has said.... -
Clarach Bay, Aberystwyth, Sowerby's beaked whale body is removed
The body of a whale has been removed from a mid Wales beach following a post-mortem examination.... -
Star Wars: Episode VII to be filmed in UK
The latest Star Wars film is to be made in the UK, producer Lucasfilm has said.... -
The hidden cost of mouth cancer
"We were sat for days with our heads in our hands, working out finances to see which was the best route to go down. Things have had to ...



