COOKE AND THOMAS TO GET HEROES' WELCOME IN WALES

Nicole Cooke Olympics 2008

CW's Olympics homepage>>

Wales? Olympic athletes, including cyclists Nicole Cooke and Geraint Thomas, will be given a heroes? welcome when they return home from Beijing next week.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan will roll out the red carpet on behalf of the people of Wales for our Golden generation of Welsh athletes at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay to honour their superb achievement in helping Team GB to the largest Olympic medal haul for more than a century.

?The Welsh members of team GB, led by cycling gold medallists Cooke and Thomas and rower Tom James, have done the nation proud and their triumphs in China have lifted our spirits during this damp Welsh summer,? said the First Minister.

?We want people to turn out in their thousands to welcome home the athletes at the Senedd event at midday on Tuesday. Cooke [pictured above] is the first to confirm that she will be there and we are in touch with other Welsh team members in the Olympic Village to make sure they know what a great welcome awaits them."

?Details are still being finalised but a spectacular welcome home is promised for our Welsh Olympians.?

Nicole Cooke won gold in the women's road race and Geraint Thomas was part of Britain's world record breaking team pursuit line-up.

Olympic Games 2008

Geraint Thomas, second right, will receive a heroes' welcome in Wales next week

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: TRACK

Preview: Day five at the Laoshan

Brad on Cav: He's like a schoolkid he's so up for it

Day four as it happened: Team pursuit gold and another world record

Day three summary: Gold for Romero. Pendleton, Hoy in charge in sprints. Kenny the revelation

From rower to cyclist: Romero takes an emotional gold

Brits smash world team pursuit record in round one

Tough day for the Dutch

Preview: Monday at the Laoshan

Day two in pictures

Sunday's action as it happened

Preview: Sunday at the Laoshan

Day two at the track: Summary of the action

Hoy and Edgar clean up in the Keirin

Wiggins gets pursuit gold, Burke wins bronze

Newton storms to bronze in points race

Saturday's action as it happened: Two gold, a silver and two bronze for Britain

Blog: Life in Laoshan

Day one in pictures

Brits blast to team sprint gold

Day one at the track: Summary of the action

Friday's action as it happened: Gold for team sprint trio; Wiggins, Houvenaghel and Romero well in control

Burke blasts to new individual pursuit PB

British track stars raring to go

What makes the Laoshan such a challenge

Picture special: CW takes you inside the Laoshan velodrome

Saturday's preview

Friday's preview

Can these legs make an Olympic champion?

Cavendish unlikely to ride individual pursuit

How many medals will Britain's riders win?

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: NEWS

Positive test for cyclist at Olympic Games

Bettini chasing second Olympic gold

Romero poses nude for ad

British quartet eyeing new world record

As Olympics approach two new drugs emerge

Beijing Blog

Beijing Blog 2

Beijing Blog 3

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: ROAD

Picture special: Women's time trial

Cancellara wins men's time trial gold

Men's time trial reaction: Steve Cummings on his ride

Women's time trial reaction: I feel fantastic, says Pooley

Pooley wins silver in women's time trial

Cooke's secret was the skinsuit

What the papers say... about Nicole Cooke

Analysis: women's road race

Gold for Nicole Cooke in Women?s road race

Reaction: It?s a dream to win Gold, says Cooke

Women's Olympic road race picture special

Sanchez gives Spain gold in thrilling men?s road race

Who is Samuel Sanchez?

Tactical analysis: Reading the men?s Olympic road race

British riders suffer in hot and humid Olympic road race

Rebellin misses out on golden birthday

Brailsford confident ahead of women?s road race

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: GUIDE

Olympic Games 2008 homepage>>

Olympics: latest news>>

Olympics cycling results>>

Cycling event schedule>>

Great Britain rider profiles>>

Cycling event guide>>

Photo gallery>>

Every British cycling medal ever won at the Olympic Games

From paupers to kings: The lottery funded revolution>>

Track results at the Worlds and Olympics 2004-2008

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