Special report:   2008 Olympic Games 

    OTTAWA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Canada will send about 300 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and it hopes to finish among the top 16 in the overall medal table.

    The remarks were made by Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) President Michael Chambers Monday in Ottawa.

    Chambersl also announced the establishment of the Athlete Excellent Fund, which will award cash prize to Olympics medalists for the first time in Canadian history.

    Starting from Beijing Olympics, Canadian athletes will receive 20,000 Canadian dollars (20,600 U.S. dollars) per gold medal won at any Olympic Games, said Chambers.

    Silver winners will be compensated 15,000 Canadian dollars (15,450 U.S. dollars) per medal and bronze winners will earn 10,000 Canadian dollars (10,300 U.S. dollars).

    "This program demonstrates our commitment to athlete performance and rewarding excellence," he said.

    The awards will apply to all Olympic athletes, including those playing in a team sport.

    In the three non-Olympic years of the four-year cycle, athletes who place in the top five in years one or two, or top four in year three, will receive 5,000 Canadian dollars (5,150 U.S. dollars), according to Chambers.