Kenyan Olympic delegation chief David Okeyo said on Tuesday that he expected Kenyan athletes to win "as many medals as possible" in the Beijing Olympic Games.

"Our first goal is to participate in the Olympic Games, and our second goal is to win as many medals as possible. Compared with the Athens Games, Kenyan athletes will compete in more events," Okeyo said after a flag-raising ceremony at the Olympic Village.

Earning one gold, four silver and two bronze medals in Athens, Kenya sent a delegation of 56 athletes to Beijing to compete in track and field, boxing, swimming, rowing and taekwondo.

The National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, is likely to become a bonanza for Kenya as the country boasts a contingent of talented middle and long-distance runners.

The most high-profile competition is the men's 3,000m steeplechase in which Kenyan runners have reaped eight golds in the past Olympics.

Among the elite women's athletes are 800 meters runner Pamela Jelimo and Osaka world championships marathon winner Catherine Ndereba.

The Kenyan Olympic Committee dished out about US$30,000 to help Athletics Kenyan (AK) set up two behind-door training camps in late May, the largest medal drive towards the Olympic Games in history, which can be seen as evidence of Kenya's ambition for the Beijing Games.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)