Eight Olympic gold medallists, led by Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and American sprinter Shawn Crawford, will take part in the 2006 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix on September 23, organizers said on Wednesday.

Local hero Liu, who set a world record of 12.88 seconds last July, will compete against American duo of former Olympic and world champion Allen Johnson and Terrence Trammell, who was second behind Liu in the Athens Olympics.

Liu won in front of a capacity home crowd last year at the opening edition of the Golden Grand Prix, which will be held annually until 2010 featuring 14 events.

Other Olympic champions who have confirmed their participation are US long jumper Dwight Philips, US 400m runner Jeremy Wariner, both are also winners of last year's world championships,

Ukraine's shot putter Yuriy Bilonoh, Tonique Williams-Darling of Bahamas, Ethiopian long distance runner Meseret Defar and US women's hurdler Joanna Hayes.

US sprinter Lauryn Williams, who won the gold medal of women's 100m in last year's world championships, will also race in the tournament.

Bahamas-born Ottey Merlene of Slovenia, and France's Christine Arron will run in the women's 100m event.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2006)