Mayor of Peterborough pushes for Louis Smith and Nick Dempsey to receive Freedom of the City and looks to set up civic reception

Councillor David Sanders said he will write to the chairman of honours panel in Peterborough and look to host both Olympians once they return to the UK.

Cllr Sanders said: “I certainly want a welcome for them. I have every intention of hosting both of them at the Mayor’s Parlour to thank them for what they have done for Peterborough.

“And I’m going to try and use my influence to get them Freedom of the City.

“In Peterborough we’ve not had a glut of people going to the Olympics or a glut of celebrities, and four years of hard work goes into that medal. We can’t appreciate what goes into it.

“Let’s big them up, they have a lot to be proud of. And it’s not like it’s their first time, they both have a history at the Olympics.”

Both men secured their silvers yesterday (Sunday, August 14) on a glorious day for Team GB.

Louis, from Eye, came second behind fellow Brit Max Whitlock in the pommel horse final, while Peterborough-raised Dempsey became the most decorated men’s Olympic windsurfer with his silver in the Olympic RS:X.

Louis now has two silvers and two bronzes from three Games, while Nick won a bronze at Athens in 2004 and a silver at London 2012.

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