The gymnastic team of Japan touched down in Beijing on Thursday afternoon, just nine days out from the opening of the Beijing Olympics Games.

Hiroyuki Tomita said at the airport that he was primed for the Games and looking forward to training on the newly-built National Indoor Stadium.

As a member of the Japanese team which won the title in the Athens Olympics, Tomita said they hoped to defend the men's champion in Beijing and strive for the men's all-around title.

"We have great gymnasts in men's team and in men's all-around, we hope we could get satisfactory results in Beijing, but China will be a strong opponent. Yang Wei of China is one of the favorites to win the men's all-around." said Tomita.

Tomita said he wished to begin his pre-Olympic practise as soon as possible.

"We didn't have the chance to go to the newly-built National Indoor Stadium until now. I hope we can begin the practise soon there." said Tomita, who won the silver medal at the men's parallel bars in Athens four years ago.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)