Zimbabwe will retain good prospects for medals during the coming Beijing Olympic Games though it is difficult to tell how many, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee CEO Robert Mutsauki told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

Mutsauki said Zimbabwe hopes to send more athletes to participate in Beijing Olympic Games. "We are sending a team of between 15 and 20 members. Of course, some of our team members are still in the qualification for the games," he said.

Four years ago in Athens, Zimbabwe sent 12 athletes and got three medals, a gold, a silver and a bronze, all from an individual swimmer called Coventry.

"She is part of the team this time. The 24-year-old is stronger now. We believe she can do even better. We are in the final stage of the preparation. Some are trained in Zimbabwe and others abroad," Mutsauki said.

He said, "We are set to get medals although we can't say how many. But we never put pressure on our athletes. We just try to help them do their best. If so, that is enough for them to get medal."

According to Mutsauki, the possible brightest prospect for medals is Kirsty Coventry, and they also expect good performances in 100m, 200m race.

ZOC was founded in 1980 when the country achieved independence from the colonial rule of the British. And Zimbabwe participated the first games in that year and got gold medals from women's hockey.

The country had not got any medals until 2004 in Athens.

Talking about his impression on the Beijing Games, Mutsauki said, "I think the Beijing Games will be very exciting because we know that the Chinese do their best to organize the best games ever."

"Everybody is trying to organize the ones that are the best games ever. The Chinese have done everything to ensure the games to be successfully held," he said.

Mutsauki and the Chairman of Zimbabwe Olympic Committee went to Beijing for the annual general assembly in early April. He said they even were able to visit some of the venues.

"Those are brilliant venues. You look at the Bird Nest, so and so. These are unique venues. They have done something unique which are different from the previous ones," he said.

"I am sure that it will be very competitive games, and the competitions will be very tough as well. And China itself, I think, would like to be on the top of the medal table," he said.

As for the recent event of the torch relay, Mutsauki said the torch relay is the traditional event which is always held by the International Olympic Committee in the organizer's names.

In terms of sports exchange between Zimbabwe and China, he said in 1995 there was a lot of exchange between the two countries. Just before the all of the games, a number of Chinese coaches, including table tennis and gymnastic coaches, visited Zimbabwe.

"We think we should improve the exchange so we can benefit. Maybe the athletes of the two countries can train together, so that we can join in training efficiently. We can take coaches to China and also to Zimbabwe," he said.

"But right now the exchange between schools is very important because the schools are supporting our athletes for Olympic Games, " he added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2008)