The Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) said on Wednesday that it had awarded a total of 420,000 pesos (US$136,000) in sponsorship to six local athletes who are training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

 

They are swimmer Georgina Bardach, judo wrestler Daniela Krukower, rower Santiago Fernandez, triathlete Jorge Farias, showjumper Jose Luis Ortelli and pentathlete Armando Acosta.

 

COA president, Julio Cassanello, said the organization was very proud of being able to support the athletes, who are Argentina's great hopes for the Olympics.

 

All of the athletes are also competing at the Odesur Games that will take place in November in Buenos Aires and the 2007 Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

 

Argentina won two gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics, thanks to its basketball and soccer teams. It also won three bronze medals, one thanks to Bardach, in the 400 meters medley.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)