China will send its biggest Olympic team yet to the Athens Games to compete in 26 out of 28 sports - missing only baseball and equestrian events.

　　The 407-member team was announced yesterday in Beijing.

　　The delegation will include an additional 226 officials, interpreters and medical staff.

　　The team aims to hold on to its No. 3 ranking from Sydney in the medals table.

　　By winning 28 golds, 16 silvers and 15 bronzes in Sydney, China followed the United States and Russia, but outperformed Australia, France and Germany.

　　"I think if we get 20 or more in Athens that would be fairly normal," Li Furong, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sports, told a press conference.

　　"But to repeat the unprecedented medal haul in Sydney will be an extremely difficult task," he said.

　　Li cited the smaller number of Olympics veterans as one of the reasons for fewer gold medals. Of the 407 athletes, only 84 have previously competed in the Olympics.

　　But Li expressed the hope that the 323 first-timers would gain experience to help them at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

　　"After tasting the Olympics for the first time, they can definitely do better in the 2008 Beijing Games," he said.

　　China is hoping to repeat its victories in table tennis, badminton, diving and gymnastics.

　　Hopes are also high that the women's volleyball team can stage a comeback in Athens after tumbling from the top ranks following a spurt of brilliance in the 1980s.

　　China's oldest athlete headed to Athens is Wang Yifu, a 43-year-old sharpshooter who is competing in his sixth Olympics and will try to win his second gold medal.

　　The youngest athlete is 14-year-old female swimmer Zhang Tianyi.

　　The average age of China's competitors at the August Games will be just over 23 - it was nearer 24 in Sydney. Women make up two-thirds of the squad.

　　A group of 38 Shanghai athletes is included in the team.

　　The biggest local hope for Olympic victory lies with woman diver Wu Minxia, who will partner world champion Guo Jingjing in the synchronized springboard diving competition.

　　Shanghai star hurdler Liu Xiang, an Asian record holder, will charge for the top place in the 110-meter event.

　　Woman sharpshooter Tao Luna is also expected to repeat her winning performance four years ago in the 10-meter air pistol contest.

　　Shanghai-born paddler and multiple world champion Wang Liqin is one of the favorites to win the men's singles title at the 2-week-long Athens Games, which will officially open on August 13.

　　But the most eye-catching figure from the city will be Yao Ming. The 2.26-meter NBA center will spearhead the Chinese men's basketball team's efforts to qualify for the semifinal stage and sources from the sports administration indicate that he might be chosen as the flag carrier for the delegation at the Olympics opening ceremony.

　　"The final decision has yet to be made," said an official who asked not to be named. "But Yao's very close to it, although his detractors might argue he's too tall."

　　For China historically, the role of flag carrier goes to basketball players, a tradition which favors the choice of Yao. Former Chinese basketball forward Liu Yudong carried the flag for the delegation at the opening ceremonies of both the Sydney and Atlanta Games.

　　Most members of the Chinese delegation will head for the Athens Games on August 7.