Colombian government on Friday gave a check for US$50,000 to the weightlifter Diego Salazar, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games of Beijing.

Salazar received the check from the director of the Colombian Institute of Sports (Coldeportes) Everth Bustamante.

Salazar said that he will use the money to buy a house for his family. Salazar was welcomed as a hero by multitude in the airport, after he come back from China where he won the silver medal in 62kg weightlifting.

Salazar had won gold at the world Cups of Paris 2003, Helsinki 2005 and Osaka 2007.

Colombia won two medals in the Olympic Games of Beijing, one silver from Salazar and the other a bronze from Jacqueline Renteria at wrestling 55kg class.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2008)