Australia to send record team
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-22 15:31
SYDNEY, May 20 (Reuters) - Australia is planning to send a record team of
almost 500 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Australian Olympic
Committee (AOC) announced on Saturday.
AOC President John Coates said early estimates indicated Australia would have
a team numbering 496 athletes for Beijing, eclipsing the previous record of 482
for an "away" Games set in Athens in 2004.
Australia was represented by 632 athletes when the 2000 Games were held in
Sydney.
"It all hinges on the number of athletes who reach the Olympic qualifying
standard, but at this point we look like we will be bigger than Athens," Coates
told the AOC annual general meeting.
"If an athlete qualifies they will be selected for Beijing and be marching
into the main stadium on August 8 2008."
Coates said the introduction of open water swimming events would create an
extra four places on the team, with Australia expected to have two men and two
women contesting the 10 kilometre event.
He also said Australia could have nine synchronised swimmers in Beijing after
just two went to Athens and that the wrestling team could be increased from one
to seven
|
