50,000 cheer Scots Olympic stars

10:27pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A crowd of 50,000 turned out to welcome Scotland's Olympic heroes home.

Gold-winning medal cyclist Chris Hoy was joined by fellow Scots medallists Ross Edgar, Katherine Grainger and David Florence for an open top bus parade down Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

The historic thoroughfare was packed with flag-waving well-wishers as the bus made its way from Edinburgh Castle, where a reception for the Olympians was held, down to Holyrood Park.

"It means so much to be home but also to see how warm the reception has been and how much interest there has been," Hoy said.

Hoy, 32, became the first Briton for 100 years to win three golds at a single Olympics, having previously hit gold in Athens four years ago.

The athletes waved to the crowds from the top deck of the Saltire-clad bus, with Edinburgh native Hoy picking out friends and relatives below.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb said the parade through the heart of the capital had been a "staggering success".

He added: "Everyone had a fantastic time. Many more people came along than we had expected and it was perfect opportunity to welcome the medallists back - I think people will be talking about it for quite a long time.

"The huge turnout at the Royal Mile is a sign of how proud Edinburgh people are of our athletes and of the massive impact that Chris Hoy has made on the global stage."

The council later estimated 50,000 had turned out.

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