State Councilor Liu Yandong welcomed the returning delegation at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

On behalf of the State Council and the Central Committee of the Community Party of China (CPC), Liu congratulated the athletes, coaches and accompanying staff and lavished praise on the sport delegation for their excellent performances as well as the elevated sport spirit demonstrated during the London Olympics.

The athletes achieved their best Olympic results off their home turf, winning honors for the motherland and the people and impressing the world with their strong Olympic spirit and traditional Chinese sports virtue, said Liu.

Liu said the results are a precious gift presented for the upcoming 18th CPC National Congress.

Liu also encouraged sports personnel to sum up and learn from past experiences so as to constantly enhance the level of competition.

The sports delegation from the Chinese mainland took 38 gold medals, 27 silver medals and 23 bronze medals in the London 2012 Olympic Games -- a medal count second only to the United States.