Chicago O’Hare Welcomes 2012 Olympians Back to the U.S.

CHICAGO, 2012-08-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — Patriotic spirit was flying high earlier today at O’Hare International Airport as the Chicago Department of Aviation and its airport partners welcomed about 45 members of Team U.S.A. arriving from London following the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The Olympians were greeted with plenty of fanfare at Chicago O’Hare including a water cannon salute by the Chicago Fire Department as their plane taxied to the gate; cheers from airport visitors waving welcome signs and American flags; live music in the terminals; and lots of local media as they connected from International Terminal 5 to Terminal 1. Photos from today’s activities at O’Hare are included below.

A variety of athletes, coaches and family members from Team U.S.A., including wrestling, diving, gymnastics and many other sports, flew nonstop from London Heathrow on a United Airlines flight that arrived in Chicago at about 10:30 a.m. today. As a major hub for United Airlines, the team members connected through Chicago O’Hare on flights to their destinations in cities across the U.S.

The Olympians were met with enthusiastic support from airport staff and passengers as they traveled through the airport. Several athletes and coaches wore their medals proudly as they walked through the terminals and posed for pictures with excited passengers.

Team U.S.A. put on a phenomenal performance at the 2012 London Olympics, winning 104 medals – the most of any country that participated in these games.

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The United plane from London carrying Team USA members was greeted at O’Hare with a water cannon salute by the Chicago Fire Department.