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Guangzhou gave a hero's welcome to 11 athletes who returned with the best-ever achievements at an Olympic Games.

Athletes from Guangzhou won an average of 1.5 gold medals, the biggest gold haul among provincial capital cities and the third biggest gold haul of all Chinese cities.

At celebrations at the Dongfang Hotel on Saturday, Mayor Zhang Guangning and other city officials presented prizes to the athletes and coaches.

Diving champion Yang Jinghui won the first Olympic gold medal for the city in 20 years. Guangzhou weightlifter Chen Weiqiang won an Olympic gold in the 1984 Games.

Besides Yang, who grabbed the gold medal for the men's 10m platform synchronized diving with Chongqing diver Tian Liang, the city's Zhang Jiewen and Yang Wei won the gold for women's badminton doubles.

Guangzhou fencers Dong Zhaozhi and Wu Hanxiong contributed to the silver medal for the men's team in fencing.

Mayor Zhang told the athletes that the city would train more athletes in addition to building more sports facilities after winning the right to host the Asian Games.

The international badminton association would set up an international badminton training center in Guangzhou, Vice Mayor Li Zhuobin said.

Zhang urged the city's athletes to make greater contributions in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

The 11 athletes received different varying amounts from the municipal government according to their results. The minimum amount was 10,000 yuan.
 
Editor: Catherine