‘Thanks for a great job, Britain’ as Olympians check in for trips home

With their medals hanging around their necks, the athletes checked in at a special Games terminal made up to resemble a London park.

At one end there was a mock-up double-deck red bus. There were plants, park benches and trees, including a tree on which athletes were invited to hang a message describing their best moment of the Games.

Admiring the elaborate make-up of the makeshift terminal, gold medal winner in the 4x400 metres relay Chris Brown, of the Bahamas, said: “I have been tremendously well looked after here in London.”

“These Games in London have been great. London has staged a fantastic Olympics.”

Two more gold medal-winners, – Courtney Mathewson and Tumua Anae of the USA water polo team – were flying home to California. Anae, 23, said: “The Games were awesome. The people were so good to us. I have to say to Britain – you guys did a great job.”