The Somali National Olympic committee delegation to the 2012 London Olympic Games received huge welcome at London’s Heathrow International airport upon arrival on Wednesday morning where uncountable numbers of jubilant Somali community members were standing in lines since mid-night over night on Wednesday.

Those include former national team players, former coaches and business people.

Dozens of international journalists were also waiting the Somali team at the airport in a bid to interviews with the team and the Somali NOC officials accompanying them. Not only those living in London had taken part in the welcome, but members from the other Somali communities across UK and some from other European countries who arrived in London two days ago were among the jubilant Somalis waving the country’s flag.

“for the past several days delegates from around the world have been arriving here, but I have never seen such well come before–it shows that the Somali people are well organized and they love their people and country” a young British boy who identified himself as George said.

A colorful welcome breakfast ceremony was held for the Somali delegation at a Somali-owned restaurant in West London before they were taken to the Olympic park.

“Today I can’t guess how happy I am because of the cooperation among Somali communities and the huge welcome we are doing for our Somali delegation–I urge that Somalis in our homeland show such commitment and then I am sure that peace and stability will return to our country “former women’s national team maker Hawa Sheik Taako told the welcome breakfast ceremony.

Somali National Olympic committee president Duran Ahmed Farah and his secretary General Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi said they were very grateful to the Somali community members for the patriotic move in terms of the huge welcome they organized for the Somali Olympic delegation to the world event.

“Today you have done something unprecedented which gave a great moral support for both the athletes and Somalis living in the outside world–we are really very pleased with what we have met here today” the Somali NOC president Duran Ahmed Farah told the welcome ceremony on Wednesday morning.

BY Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar