TEAM GB toasted its Olympic medal success in Paris – with British bubbly.
The nation enjoyed one of its most successful ever Games collecting 65 gongs, just two behind its record haul at Rio 2016. Though the occasion merited a champagne celebration the famous French fizz was off the menu at the post-OIympic party in Team GB’s HQ at the heart of Paris.
Instead officials shipped in hundreds of bottles of Brit Nyetimber sparkling wine. The UK vineyard created a special bubbly in honour of the nation’s athletes battling for gold at the Games.
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Its limited edition Team GB Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage costs £41.50 a bottle and boasts a red, white and blue label. Wine bosses even sponsored three of the competitors – rowers Tom George and Ollie Wynne-Griffith who won silvers in the men’s pair and Joe Choong (corr) who came ninth in the modern pentathlon.
Corks were flying as they helped Team GB win the third largest medal haul of any nation, behind sporting giants China and the US. A source said: “There’s a bit of coals-to-Newcastle involved in the celebrations.
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“Normally we’d be cracking open the champagne – particularly in the heart of France where it’s produced. But there was not a drop to be found in Team GB house in Paris.
“All the bubbly was British. As you might expect it was flowing after such a great Games. No-one complained. It’s a fantastic drink that can give its French rival more than a run for its money.’’
A spokesman for Nyetimber, which has vineyards in Sussex, Hampshire and Kent sharing similar chalk soil to France’s Champagne region, said `each athlete’s unwavering dedication to excellence’ was mirrored by the `commitment and passion that we pour into our finest English sparkling wine’.
“Greatness isn’t achieved overnight,’’ the spokesman said. “We understand the years of dedication, determination, and unwavering commitment required for world-class performance. We recognise that same dedication in every Team GB athlete.
“It’s our great honour and privilege to celebrate each step of Team GB’s journey to this landmark moment. We know the perseverance behind the scenes, the relentless pursuit of perfection, whether for a gold medal performance or an award-winning release.
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A brass band played Beatles’ songs and God Save The King as Team GB headed home on the Eurostar yesterday (mon) from the Gare du Nord in Paris.
British Embassy staff joined loved ones waving flags to see off the nation’s gold medal-winning women’s cycling sprint team.
Sophie Capewell, 25, said: “I loved the closing ceremony. We were standing right next to where Tom Cruise landed. He came down right in front of us and then he was greeted by all the US team. That was pretty cool I have to say. Then he got onto his motorbike and rode off. It was quite a show. This has been a very, very special Games.
Vincent Raymond, 45, who plays trumpet in the brass band that serenaded the athletes, said: “We came to say goodbye to everybody from Team GB.
“Everyone in France was worried about the Games beforehand, the transport, the tickets, the organisation. But it has been such a great success. Even the weather was British.’’