Special report: 2008 Olympic
Games
LONDON, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The 43-strong British rowing
team, one of Britain's most medal hopefuls, left here on Tuesday for Beijing
Olympic Games scheduled to open on Aug. 8.
A range of what claimed to be "high energy" stack foods, were offered on
board British Airways Boeing 747, named "Pride" after the Team GB's lion Olympic
mascot.
Bill Barry, coach for single sculler Allan Campbell, Britain's best hope
for an Olympic gold since Jack Beresford won in Paris in 1924, said he wished
his man could pocket another gold.
Barry said that Campbell's training for the Beijing Games was interrupted
by a knee injury, but he is prepared to win in Beijing.
The man's single sculler coach, who was once an Olympic silver-medallist
himself, said that he just could not wait to go to Beijing, where one of his
sons working there and speak fluent Chinese, has been expecting to see him for
long time, and another son will join them during the Games.
Barry said, he wishes a gold medal for Campbell and a great family
gathering in Beijing.
Matt Langridge, a world bronze-winners in the pairs last year who is in the
men's eight, said that he and his team would like very much to win another gold
after the event gave Britain gold on the 2000 Sydney Games.
Britain has set a target of just four medals in Beijing with entries in 13
of the 14 events.
But it is believed that the country who is to host the 2012 Games, could
get as many as nine, or even more.
The lightweight men's double, women's quadruple scull and men's coxless
four are believed to be strong competitors for gold in Beijing.
British Airways, official carrier for the British Olympic and Paralympic
teams, has installed special headrests wishing Team GB "Gold Luck."