Intro:

The president of Colombia and several hundred guests welcomed home the Colombian athletes from the London olympic Games on Wednesday (15th August) at a ceremony in the capital, Bogota.

Script:

Colombia's Olympic medallists were welcomed home on Wednesday with a ceremony at the presidential palace in Bogota.

President Juan Manuel Santos greeted the eight medallists and rewarded them with university scholarships, cars and houses for their accomplishments. 

Santos also bestowed the successful Olympians with the "Order of Boyaca", the highest honour granted by the Colombian government and declared that his compatriots had exceeded expectations.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia president
"Our most optimistic estimates, maybe four or five and maybe even if it went really well, six medals. But all of you with your talent and enthusiasm surpassed our estimates. Eight Olympic medals! Eight!"

A 104 strong Colombian Olympic team earned four bronze medals, three silver medals and a gold medal at London 2012. 

20-year-old Mariana Pajon clinched the nation's only gold in BMX cycling.

London 2012 was the most successful Olympic Games in Colombian history, surpassing the three medals the country won in Munich in 1972.

With the 2016 Games being held in neighbouring Brazil, Colombia will not have far to carry a larger medal bounty home in four years time.