New Zealand will send a 30-strong team to the Paralympic Games in Beijing in September, Radio New Zealand reported on Wednesday.

The team is headed by Athens gold medallists Tim Prendergast and Matt Slade in athletics, and shooter Michael Johnson.

Tim Johnson, Dan Buckingham, Jai Waite, Curtis Palmer Gerry Tinker and Sholto Taylor - who were members of the gold medal-winning Wheel Blacks - will also be in Beijing to defend the title.

Liam Sanders, Maurice Toon and Jeremy Morriss in boccia (a cross between indoor bowls and pentanque), along with swimmer Daniel Sharp, are other team members who won medals in Athens.

Current world record holders, Wellington's Paula Tesoriero in cycling and Invercargill's Jessica Hamill in athletics, are expected to be strong medal contenders.

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will be held in September and will use the same venues and village as the Olympic Games. A total of 4,000 athletes from 130 countries and regions are expected to compete.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2008)