The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Ottawa

Canada is relying on "team spirit" to reach the podium at the Olympic Games in Beijing after qualifying in more team sports than it has in decades, the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee has said.

But a litany of injuries and a significant boost in funding for Chinese and British athletes ahead of the Games could dash its hopes.

"We hope to rank in the top 16 at the Olympic Games in Beijing," up from 19th spot in Athens in 2004, Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said in an interview with AFP.

That will require at least three gold medals, he said. "We have athletes that can bring home three or more gold medals for us."

But he said he worries host China, "expected to have its best Games ever," and Britain, which upped its training budget to try to rank high at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, will steal medals from Canada at this year's Games.

"The 'China factor' is unknown going in," Chambers said. "It will also be interesting to see how Britain does at these Olympics because they've invested a lot of money in their athletes and coaches in order to hope to have their best ever Olympics in 2012."

Canada boosted funding for its athletes too, but the bulk of it will not be disbursed until after the Beijing Games, to try to get Canada into the top 12 in London, and in first place at its 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

"These Games are a first-step, a transition Games for Canada under a new funding model (that rewards winning), where we may or may not see a significant increase in the number of medals won," Chambers explained.

However, "I believe the accomplishments of our Olympic team will be markedly improved at these Games," he added.

Some 330 Canadian athletes are expected to compete in Beijing (312 have qualified so far), including in five team sports: men's baseball, men's field hockey, men's water polo, women's softball, and women's soccer.

"It's the greatest number of teams Canada has sent to a Summer Games (in decades)," said Chambers.