Hungarian President Laszlo Solyomon on Friday honored top Hungarian Olympians, coaches, physicians and sports officials in the Parliament Building.

Altogether 87 persons were granted state awards on Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany' proposal.

The president granted the highest honor, Grand Cross of Order of Merit to Denes Kemeny, coach of the Hungarian men's water polo team that won gold medals in three Olympics in a row.

The Middle Cross with a star of Order of Merit was granted to the six water polo players who members of all the three Olympic champion teams.

Ferenc Gyurcsany and Speaker of Parliament Katalin Szili attended the awarding ceremony.

The Hungarian Olympic team won three gold medals, five silvers and two bronzes in the Beijing Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2008)