The 43-strong British rowing team, one of Britain's most medal hopefuls, left London on Tuesday for Beijing Olympic Games scheduled to open on August 8.

A range of what claimed to be "high energy" stack foods, were offered on board British Airways Boeing 747, named "Pride" after the Team GB's lion Olympic mascot.

Bill Barry, coach for single sculler Allan Campbell, Britain's best hope for an Olympic gold since Jack Beresford won in Paris in 1924, said he wished his man could pocket another gold.

Barry said that Campbell's training for the Beijing Games was interrupted by a knee injury, but he is prepared to win in Beijing.

The man's single sculler coach, who was once an Olympic silver-medalist himself, said that he just could not wait to go to Beijing, where one of his sons working there and speaks fluent Chinese, has been expecting to see him for long time, and another son will join them during the Games.

Barry said, he wishes a gold medal for Campbell and a great family gathering in Beijing.

Matt Langridge, a world bronze-winners in the pairs last year who is in the men's eight, said that he and his team would like very much to win another gold after the event gave Britain gold on the 2000 Sydney Games.

Britain has set a target of just four medals in Beijing with entries in 13 of the 14 events.

But it is believed that the country who is to host the 2012 Games, could get as many as nine, or even more.

The lightweight men's double, women's quadruple scull and men's coxless four are believed to be strong competitors for gold in Beijing.

British Airways, official carrier for the British Olympic and Paralympic teams, has installed special headrests wishing Team GB "Gold Luck".

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2008)