Colombian president decorates Olympic medal winners

 BOGOTA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday decorated with the "Order of Boyaca" the eight Colombian athletes who won medals in London 2012 Olympic Games.

The "Order of Boyaca", the maximum decoration given by the Colombian government, was granted to the winners of one gold medal, three silver medals and four bronze medals during the recent summer games.

Before the ceremony, the athletes paraded through the streets of Bogota on a fire engine. Mariana Pajon, Carlos Mario Oquendo, Jackeline Renteria, Catherine Ibarguen, Oscar Figueroa, Yuri Alvear and Oscar Munoz greeted the people who cheered them along their way to Casa de Narino, seat of the Colombian government.

Only cyclist Rigoberto Uran was absent of the celebration because he is currently¹ training for a competence² to be held in Europe.

"Welcome, Colombia's medal-winners! Welcome, athletes who have filled our country with honor! Your pride is our pride. Your victories have been also our victories," said President Juan Manuel Santos at the beginning of the ceremony.

During the London 2012 Olympic Games, which ended Sunday, Colombian athletes won medals in cycling, weightlifting, judo³, taekwondo, triple⁴ jump, free-style wrestling and BMX category cycling.

"The Order of Boyaca, the same that Bolivar and his troops received 193 years ago, is the symbol of our love for you, of our respect and our gratefulness," said Santos to the athletes.

Santos announced that he signed a decree⁵ to give housing benefits to the Olympic medal-winners.

The Colombian President also said that the government' s Military University will give full scholarships to the eight winners as well as to another eight athletes who had good performances in the summer games.

Mariana Pajon, who won the first gold medal in Colombia' s Olympic history in BMX cycling, thanked Santos' support to the 100-athlete delegation⁶ who took part in London 2012 and asked the government and the Colombian people to believe in sports and athletes.

Also, the Colombian government promised to address more resources for the athletes' training towards Rio de Janeiro 2016.

1 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

2 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

3 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

4 triple   

n.三倍之数，三个一组；adj.三倍的

参考例句：

• Twelve is the triple of four.十二是四的三倍数。
• He received triple wages for all his extra work.由于额外的工作他领取了三倍的工资。

5 decree   

n.法令，政令，判决，裁决；vt.判决，命令

参考例句：

• The court granted her a decree of divorce.法院判决她离婚。
• They had to obey the decree that beards be shaved off.他们只得服从剃光胡须的法令。

6 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。