Olympic heroes set for Royal Mile parade

Published on Friday 22 August 2008 18:21

SCOTLAND'S Olympic medallists – including triple gold winner Chris Hoy – are to take part in a triumphant homecoming parade, it was announced today.

The Beijing heroes will ride in an open top bus down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh after attending a reception at the city's castle.

Track cyclist Hoy, 32, was the first Briton for 100 years to win three golds at a single Olympics – and became Scotland's greatest Olympian yet in the process.

The Edinburgh athlete, dubbed "The Flying Scotsman", won his gold medals in the men's sprint, the team sprint and the Keirin in Beijing.

He had also won a gold at the Athens Games in 2004 in the 1km sprint.

It is hoped Hoy will be joined at the parade by the other three Scottish medallists.

Aberdeen canoeist David Florence, 26, took silver in the men's slalom.

Glasgow-born rower Katherine Grainger, 32, picked up her third silver medal in three consecutive Olympic Games.

And Ross Edgar, 25, clinched a silver medal in the men's Keirin.

The welcome, organised by sportscotland and the Scottish Government, will begin with a press conference at Edinburgh Castle next Wednesday.

The sportsmen will be greeted there by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and sportscotland chairwoman Louise Martin.

The Olympians will then take part in a open top bus parade beginning at Castle Esplanade, travelling down the Royal Mile and finishing at Holyrood Palace.