Italy hopes the country's largest-ever Paralympic team will deliver an outstanding performance in Beijing.

Italy has sent 84 athletes to compete in 12 sports, including athletics, cycling, fencing and swimming, at the Beijing Paralympics, hoping to bring back home at least 15 medals, said Luca Pancalli, president of Italy's Paralympic Committee.

Pancalli had once represented Italy in modern pentathlon at junior level before a fall from horse back left him in a wheelchair.

However, the 44-year-old lawyer did not quit from his athletic career, winning four gold and six silver medals at the 1984 and 1996 Paralympic Games.

Pancalli said he hoped that the increase of the Italian Paralympians at the Beijing Games will encourage more disabled people to go out to take part in sports in the country.

Italy stood 31st on the medal table of the 2004 Athens Paralympics with four golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes.

Italy's National Olympic Committee has announced that the gold, silver and bronze medal winner at the Beijing Paralympics would be awarded a prize of 75,000 euros, 40,000 euros and 25,000 euros respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)