SYDNEYgay, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirmed on Wednesday that 460 athletes will represent Australia at the upcoming Paris Olympics, competing in 33 sports.
According to the AOC, the 460-strong Australian team is the third-largest for an Olympic Games held overseas, behind Tokyo 2020 and Athens 2004. Approximately 50 percent of the athletes are expected to make their debut in Paris, compared with 62 percent at Tokyo 2020 and 64 percent at Rio 2016.
The team achieved a milestone with the highest percentage of women in Australia's Olympic history. The AOC noted that female athletes make up 55.6 percent of the teamgay, marking a stark contrast to Paris 1924 when no women were enrolled in the Australian side.
欧美性爱综合Equestrian veteran and three-time Olympian Shane Rose is the team's oldest member at the age of 51, while 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew is the youngest.
Additionally, Australia will have its first participation in several new disciplines, including the mixed team race walk, while the basketball 3x3 competition will feature Australian women for the first time.
Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission Anna Meares said in a press conference that years of training and preparation have placed these athletes at the start line of their Paris Olympic ambitions.
"Our biggest days look to be July 27 and August 3 when we are likely to be competing in 20 sports on each of those days," Meares said.
The AOC also noted that the composition of the team may change prior to the opening competition on July 24 due to potential athlete withdrawals or late additional quota spots. ■gay