A massive team of almost 500 athletes could compete for Australia at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Early estimates from the Australian Olympic Committee indicate a record team size of 496 athletes in the green and gold. This would surpass the previous record of 482 athletes for an “away” Games set in Athens in 2004.

“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” said AOC President John Coates.

The AOC is committed to taking a full team to Beijing which is a little over two years away.

“If an athlete qualifies they will be selected for Beijing and be marching into the main stadium on the eighth of August 2008,” he said.

The introduction of open water swimming events will create an extra four places on the team. Australia is certain to have two men and two women contesting the 10km open water swim.

The size of the synchronized swimming section will increase from two athletes in Athens to as many as nine in Beijing. And wrestling could see its numbers for Beijing increase to seven after having only one athlete in Athens.

Both sports have an easier qualification path through the Oceania region in the lead up to Beijing providing athletes with a better chance of selection on the team.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the AOC, John Coates said planning was well advanced with the AOC providing total funding of $36.9 million for the 2005-2008 quadrennium.

That includes $17.8m to prepare the team for Beijing and another $11.5m to send the team to China in 2008.

Australia won 49 medals in Athens including a record 17 gold and finished fourth on the overall medal tally.

A top five finish on the overall medal tally is the goal again in Beijing.

AOC