President Juan Manuel Santos gave the national banner to Colombia’s national Olympic team at a ceremony held Tuesday in the presidential palace.
The Olympic team will compete at this year’s Olympic Games in London.
Swimmer Omar Pinzon, a strong candidate for a medal, received the banner from the president’s hands. Meanwhile, soccer player Daniela Montoya gave Santos the official Colombian Olympic outfit.
Santos told the athletes, “the banner we give you today carries the soul of an entire people and whoever carries it waves the pride of an entire nation.”
The president also reminded the athletes of Colombia’s history in the games, stating that “I don’t think we have ever had a group of athletes so well prepared and with such good options to win medals.”
The games are due to begin in July and will end in August. Colombia has 107 athletes that qualified for 17 out of the 26 sports featured in this year’s games, 40 more than during the 2008 Olympics.