Australian Olympians Special Qantas Flight back to Australia

[james.reid]

Looks like it departed from Stanstead Airport in the UK - not normal for Qantas

http://www.flightradar24.com/#!/2012.../00:00/QFA6058
http://fr24.com/2012-08-14/21:02/QFA6058

This flight was put on to bring many of the Australian athletes back to Australia.

[scanhorse]

Olympians bask in glory, look to Rio

Australia's Olympic team has received a hero's welcome on its return to Sydney and some are already looking ahead to Rio 2016.

They may have just arrived home but Australia's Olympians are already preparing their campaign for Rio in 2016 after scraping into the top 10 on the medal table in London.

The team was given a rousing reception at the official welcome home ceremony at Sydney airport on Wednesday morning following the long flight from London.

About 500 guests - including Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, friends, family and a large media contingent - packed into a hangar at the airport to greet the athletes after they touched down at 7.15am (AEST).

Australia won 35 medals at the London Games, comprising seven gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze, leaving it 10th overall on the medal table.

It's the lowest number of gold medals the country has won at an Olympics since the Barcelona Games in 1992 where Australia also won seven.

But Ms Gillard defended the team's medal haul.

"For those who have been quick to rush out with criticism, London 2012 has been a remarkable result by any measure," she told the crowd.

"Our nation is still in the top 10, still fighting, still striving."

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1...lympic-effort?