Germany is to send a delegation consisting of some 450 athletes to the Beijing Olympic Games, to be held in August, a spokesman from the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) said on Wednesday.

In a phone interview with Xinhua, DOSB spokesman Micheal Schirp said the figure is subject to change as entry tickets for some events, like men's basketball, are still uncertain so far.

"The German delegation will be the biggest one from Europe," he said.

According to DOSB schedule, the first batches of athletes will be nominated on May 29, and the list will be finalized on July 15. On July 26, a grand farewell party will be held in Berlin to see off the delegation.

Schirp said the DOSB does not set the objective for winning medals in Beijing, but he expected the German delegation will be within the "second group", at least maintaining the sixth place as they took in Athens in 2004.

In 2004, Germany sent a delegation consisting of 452 athletes to the Athens Olympic Games, and they brought home 49 medals, including 13 golds.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)