China name team of 639

[kitkat1]

BEIJING (AP) -China unveiled its largest team of 639 athletes Friday for the Beijing Olympics, a squad many expect will dislodge the United States from the top of the gold-medal table.

China is likely to field the biggest team when the games open in two weeks. This Chinese contingent is much larger than Athens, when 407 athletes were named. China fielded 311 athletes in the Sydney Olympics eight years ago.

Chinese stars such as basketball player Yao Ming and defending Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang will be under tremendous pressure to deliver at home.

China’s government hopes the highly stage-managed Olympics will show the country as a rising political and economic power. Any slip-up in medals, delivering clean air, or controlling political protests would be seen as a failure of the Communist Party leadership.

China won 32 gold medals in 2004, four fewer than the United States. The U.S. topped China by 39 medals in the overall count. Russia also won 10 more overall medals than China, but had only 27 gold.

The United States said this week it would send 596 athletes to the games although the roster could change because of unforeseen circumstances like injury or illness.

In a quest for more medals, China’s fearsome state-run sports schools have been targeting relatively low-profile sports such as shooting, women’s weightlifting, rowing, boxing and cycling. The Chinese are also expected to deliver in three sports they usually dominate: diving, badminton and table tennis.

By contrast, the United States traditionally dominates two sports: swimming and track and field. The Americans have won slightly more than half of their overall medals in the last two games in swimming and athletics.

China won only four gold medals in athletics and swimming in the last two Olympics combined.

One of the first head-to-head showdowns between China and the United States will come in men’s basketball on Aug. 10 in an opening game in group play.
Many forecasters expect both China and the United States to win more than 40 gold medals apiece. China will get a boost from competing at home before packed venues and patriotic fans. In the last several Olympics, statistics indicate the home field advantage on average has been worth seven additional gold medals for the hosts.

[kitkat1]

@kitkat1

BEIJING (AP) -China unveiled its largest team of 639 athletes Friday for the Beijing Olympics, a squad many expect will dislodge the United States from the top of the gold-medal table.

China is likely to field the biggest team when the games open in two weeks. This Chinese contingent is much larger than Athens, when 407 athletes were named. China fielded 311 athletes in the Sydney Olympics eight years ago.

Chinese stars such as basketball player Yao Ming and defending Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang will be under tremendous pressure to deliver at home.

China’s government hopes the highly stage-managed Olympics will show the country as a rising political and economic power. Any slip-up in medals, delivering clean air, or controlling political protests would be seen as a failure of the Communist Party leadership.

China won 32 gold medals in 2004, four fewer than the United States. The U.S. topped China by 39 medals in the overall count. Russia also won 10 more overall medals than China, but had only 27 gold.

The United States said this week it would send 596 athletes to the games although the roster could change because of unforeseen circumstances like injury or illness.

In a quest for more medals, China’s fearsome state-run sports schools have been targeting relatively low-profile sports such as shooting, women’s weightlifting, rowing, boxing and cycling. The Chinese are also expected to deliver in three sports they usually dominate: diving, badminton and table tennis.

By contrast, the United States traditionally dominates two sports: swimming and track and field. The Americans have won slightly more than half of their overall medals in the last two games in swimming and athletics.

China won only four gold medals in athletics and swimming in the last two Olympics combined.

One of the first head-to-head showdowns between China and the United States will come in men’s basketball on Aug. 10 in an opening game in group play.
Many forecasters expect both China and the United States to win more than 40 gold medals apiece. China will get a boost from competing at home before packed venues and patriotic fans. In the last several Olympics, statistics indicate the home field advantage on average has been worth seven additional gold medals for the hosts.

The 1099-strong delegation also include 460 officials for the Games to be opened on Aug. 8, according to deputy chef de Mission Duan Shijie here on Friday.

Men's 110 meters hurdling Olympic champion Liu Xiang, NBA star Yao Ming and diving queen Guo Jingjing will spearhead the biggest squad in Beijing to compete in all 28 sports. 

Shooter Tan Zongliang, 37, is one of the three athletets making their fourth Olympic trip. The other two are basketballer Li Nan and Guo, two time Olympic champion on women's springboard. 

Thirty-seven athletes of the team will enjoy their third Games while 165 have been to Athens. 

"I'm getting better with good training and no injury. All I have to do in the Olympic track is to beat myself," said Liu, who became the national hero by winning Chinese men's first-ever athletics Olympic gold medal in 2004. 

In a ceremony held at the announcement of the delegation, all the present members pledged, facing the Chinese national flag, that they will complete clean and fair, respecting opponents, judges and spectators. 

The Chinese delegation also include 42 minority athletes, participating in 18 sports, and 38 foreign coaches including men's basketball manager Jonas Kazlauskas of Lithuania. 

The full list will be revealed later at the Beijing Olympic Games official website.