Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    TIRANA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Albania is to send its biggest sports delegation to China to take part in the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Albania's sports authorities said on Monday.

    "This time we will send 27 people to the Beijing Games, the biggest ever delegation in our country's Olympic history," Hysen Domi, President of Albania's Olympic Committee, told Xinhua.

    He added that Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the country's Sports Minister Ylli Pango will attend the opening ceremony of the Games on August 8, in Beijing.

    Domi said among the 27 people, 11 are athletes, 9 coaches, and administrative officials for the rest. They will compete in six events: swimming, track and field, weightlifting, wrestling, shooting and judo.

    Domi heaped praises on the preparations of Beijing Games, especially the drastic measures that Beijing has taken to improve the air quality.

    "I follow the news every day. And I noticed that cars have been taken off the road to improve the air and lessen the congestion. That is really wonderful," Domi said.

    Albania first took part in the Olympic Games in 1972 in Munich, in Germany. After that it backed out. And it rejoined the Olympic family at Barcelona Games in Spain in 1992.

    Domi said he believes Beijing will stage a unique and successful Games and he hopes Albanian delegation will have a good performance in weightlifting and wrestling at the Games.