June 09, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1428

SYDNEY, June 8: The Australian Olympic Committee is predicting a top-five medal performance at next year’s Beijing Olympics.

The AOC President John Coates told a business function here on Friday Australia was on target to finish fifth on the overall medal tally following recent outstanding performances.

“We are going into these Games with very high hopes,” Coates told the function.

Coates pointed to the 18 medals won by Australia at the world swimming championships in Melbourne last March as an indicator.

“Our swimmers produced yet another outstanding result and we are seeing resurgence in track and field in Australia led by (distance runner) Craig Mottram,” he said.

There was also high praise for Australia's gymnasts and rowers.

Australia won a record 58 medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and 49 medals, including a record 17 gold, at the 2004 Athens Olympics where they were fourth in the table behind the US, China and Russia.

“We will be the third-largest team in Beijing behind China and the US with around 500 athletes and we will be represented in more team sports than other superpowers like Russia and Germany,” Coates said.—AFP