Chinanews, Beijing, March 8 – China is going to send a delegation with 179 members to the 12th FINA World Championship in Melbourne, Australia, in late April, 2007, the biggest ever. The Championship will be held from March 17 to April 1, and more than 2,000 athletes from 158 countries and regions will take part in it.

 

“There will be 104 athletes in the delegation, including 52 who will participate in the competitions for honors of the various events the Championship,” said Li Hua, the director of the Swimming Center of the General Administration of Sports. “We believe it is necessary to organize such a big delegation, to gain experience for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. ”

 

Chinese athletes will take part in diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, and open waters, all the five events of the Championship.

 

China is confident in taking several gold medals in diving, and it will send 14 divers, including Guo Jingjing, the Olympic champion, and 8 rookies.