¡¡¡¡ATHENS, Aug. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Olympic medallists and world Sailing champions are about to get a first sample of the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Center, the venue that will host the 2004 Olympic Sailing events.

¡¡¡¡A total of 557 men and women athletes and 361 boats from 43 countries and regions will take part in the Athens 2002 Regatta, the first pre-Olympic Test Event at the venue, from August 16 to 23.

¡¡¡¡Top Sailing men athletes, including Carlos Espinoza from Argentina, Roman Hangara from Austria, etc., will come to Greece for the Regatta.

¡¡¡¡Top women athletes include Australian Jerry Armstrong and Belinda Stuel, British Shirley Robertson, German Amelie LUx and Italian Alessandra Censini.

¡¡¡¡Hosts Greece plans to have a strong presence at the event with 48 men and women athletes and 30 boats.

¡¡¡¡Participation number per boat class will be as follows:

¡¡¡¡Men's Mistral, 45 boats

¡¡¡¡Women's Mistral, 38

¡¡¡¡Finn, 37

¡¡¡¡Laser, 61

¡¡¡¡Europe, 9

¡¡¡¡Men's 470, 38

¡¡¡¡Women's 470, 36

¡¡¡¡49er, 41

¡¡¡¡Tornado, 31

¡¡¡¡Yngling, 25 Enditem