BEIJING, July 20: China has assembled its largest ever Olympic squad for Athens but says its real target is the 2008 Games in Beijing. China unveiled the names of 407 competitors on Tuesday, saying it had put the emphasis on youth wherever possible.

"When older and younger athletes have roughly equal abilities, we did our best to send the younger athlete," said Li Furong, deputy head of China's Olympic committee.

"We want to take the opportunity of the Athens Olympics to participate in more events, allow more athletes, especially more young athletes, to participate in Olympic competition and let them feel what the Olympics are like to amass more experience for 2008 in Beijing."

China won 28 golds at the Sydney Games in 2000, including five each in diving and weightlifting and four each in table tennis and badminton. Li played down the chances of a repeat. "I personally think if we get 20 or more that would be fairly normal," he told a news conference.

The average age of China's competitors at the August Games will be just over 23 - it was nearer 24 in Sydney - with 322 athletes going to their first Olympics. Women make up two thirds of the squad, which will participate in all but two events - baseball and equestrianism. China aims to participate in all events in 2008.

The men's basketball team will be boosted by the presence of 7ft 5in (2.26 m) NBA all-star Yao Ming, who carried the Olympic torch on the final leg through Beijing on its way to Athens. -Reuters