01/08/2012

PM Hails UK Gold Medal While On Olympics Visit To Northern Ireland

Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed Team GB's first gold medal win while on a one-day visit to Northern Ireland.

He said the medal, won by rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, was "fantastic" news for the UK.

Mr Cameron said the Games had been a "huge success on every level" and showed what the UK is capable of, even in difficult times.

At Coleraine in Northern Ireland, he toured Bann Rowing Club where brothers Richard and Peter Chambers and Alan Campbell all trained.

He met Olympic torch-bearers, including 18-year-old Katie Kirk who was one of the young athletes chosen to light the cauldron at Friday night’s opening ceremony for London 2012.

He told Miss Kirk: "It was a beautiful, magical moment for our country and it was great that you were part of it."

After a reception at Coleraine Town Hall, he travelled onwards to the octagonal stones of tourist attraction the Giant's Causeway, where he got buffeted in the winds wearing just a suit and no overcoat.

He visited the new £18.5m visitors' centre, which opened at the County Antrim site last month.

The prime minister said he wanted to make sure the Olympics benefited all four regions of the UK and not just the capital.

Mr Cameron visited Scotland yesterday.

(NE)

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