Beijing Games host China will send their biggest-ever Olympic team of 639 athletes to compete on home soil next month.

The 1099-strong delegation also includes 460 officials for the Games to be opened on Aug 8.

Cui Dalin is the deputy chef de Mission.

"Because we are the host country for the games, many of our players competing for the ball games or single events have all obtained quailifications. That's why we have such a big delegation. Though we have many people, we can't say we are the strongest as many of our competitors are even stronger."

Men's 110 meters hurdling Olympic champion Liu Xiang, NBA star Yao Ming and diving queen Guo Jingjing will spearhead the biggest squad in Beijing to compete in all 28 sports.

Shooter Tan Zongliang, 37, is one of the three athletets making their fourth Olympic trip. The other two are basketballer Li Nan and two-time Olympic women's springboard champion Guo Jingjing.

Thirty-seven athletes from the team will be taking part in their third Games while 165 have been to Athens.