Athletes of the Chinese Olympic Delegration pose with the trophy during the presentation ceremony for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2009. The Chinese Olympic Delegation was honoured with the Laureus World Team of the Year Award here on Friday. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

China's world-beating Olympic champions were honored with the Laureus World Team of the Year Award at a special presentation ceremony on Friday.

The Chinese athletes delighted the home nation by producing its best ever Olympic results, leading the final medals table with 51 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze.

During the two weeks of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese team of 639 - their biggest ever - displayed impressive skills and a powerful determination.

Representatives of the Chinese Olympic Delegration pose with Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses (C Rear) during the presentation ceremony for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2009. The Chinese Olympic Delegation was honoured with the Laureus World Team of the Year Award here on Friday. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

In events traditionally strong for the Chinese, such as weightlifting, gymnastics, diving, table tennis, badminton, shooting and judo, they took 39 gold medals.

And they also made breakthroughs in events such as archery, rowing, trampoline, fencing, sailing and women's gymnastics.

The prestigious Laureus World Team of the Year Award was presented to Cui Dalin, Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, who received it on behalf of the China Olympic team from Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses, the two-time Olympic 400 meters hurdles champion, and fellow Laureus Academy member, China's Deng Yaping, the greatest female table tennis player in history,

Among the many members of the China Olympic Team who attended the presentation were triple gymnastic gold medallist and Laureus Breakthrough of the Year nominee Zou Kai, table tennis double gold medallist Zhang Yining and diving gold medallist Wu Min Xia.

Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses said: "Beijing was one of the great Olympic Games. The facilities were superb and the Games were full of remarkable sporting exploits. On the track, in the pool, in the sports halls, there was a constant stream of unforgettable historic moments.

"But to me the most amazing thing was the passion and the determination of the Chinese athletes who produced so many epic performances, not just in the sports in which we knew they were good, but in others where China was not expected to do so well. I congratulate the entire Chinese Olympic Team, they are worthy winners of this Award."

Speaking on behalf of the winners, Duan Shijie, Vice Minister of the State General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the China Olympic Committee, said: "The 2008 Beijing Olympics was one of the proudest sporting moments for China. Apart from the successful organization of a wonderful Olympic Games, the China Olympic team achieved incredible results. We would like to thank the Laureus World Sports Academy for this award and for voting the China Olympic team World Sports Team of the Year. Coming after the success in Beijing last year this award is another major achievement for all our athletes."

The other nominees for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award were the Jamaican Olympic Sprint Team, the British Olympic Cycle Team, Boston Celtics, who won the NBA play-offs for a record 17th time, and football teams Manchester United and Spain.

The Laureus World Sports Awards are the only global sports awards honoring the greatest sportsmen and women across all sports each year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a collection of the world's greatest sportsmen and women.