French Minister for Health, Youth and Sports Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin met Sunday with French swimmers and divers ahead of their departure for the Beijing Olympics.
In the city of Colombes near Paris, where the 39 athletes have finished their final training before the Olympics, Bachelot said those athletes are most likely to win medals in Beijing next month.
"This is a team with very competitive athletes, excellent trainers, and true team spirit," said Bachelot. "I believe they will score high in the Olympics."
The minister said she will attend the Olympic opening ceremony on Aug. 8 together with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Swimming is considered the forte of the French athletes. The number of French swimmers qualified for the Beijing Olympics is even higher than that for the past Olympics and Swimming World Cups.
Laure Manaudou, the 2004 Olympic 400m freestyle gold winner, and Alain Bernard, who currently holds the 100m freestyle world record, are among the French athletes aiming for the golds in Beijing.
The Americans, Australians, Japanese, Germans, Russians, Italians and Chinese are also medal contenders during the Aug. 9-17 swimming competition.
Swimming, with 32 swimming gold medals up for grabs at the Olympics, is considered the second most prolific sport after track and field.
Source:Xinhua
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