28 March 2007
Belarusian team expected to get into top 20 in medal chart at 2008 Beijing Olympics
The sports ministry expects the Belarusian team to get into the top 20 in the medal chart at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
While talking to reporters in Minsk on Tuesday, Deputy Sports Minister Dzmitry Shychko said that Belarusian athletes had won 15 medals both at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and 17 medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The official predicted that roughly the same medal haul would allow the Belarusian team to enter the top 20 at the coming Olympics in China.
US, German, Russian, Australian and Chinese athletes are tipped to grab most medals at the Olympics. Apart from this, hot and humid weather conditions are likely to give East Asian athletes an edge, the official added.
Twenty-one Belarusian athletes have already won Olympic berths. A total of 159 Belarusian athletes have enjoyed special government support ahead of the Olympics.
Speaking in October 2006, Sports Minister Alyaksandr Hryharaw said that the Belarusian team should win some 20 medals at the Beijing Olympics. //BelaPAN
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