Relying on its strengths in table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, shooting, weightlifting, and diving, the Chinese team announced a 405-athlete roster, supported by 311 coaches and staff members. They aim for a successful campaign in Paris, aspiring not only for numerous medals but also to showcase friendship, sportsmanship, and fair play to the world.

"We have to take the Olympic stage to demonstrate the superb competitive level and good spirit of Chinese athletes, as well as to present the thriving, prosperous and bright future of our country in the new era from the sports perspective," Gao Zhidan, president of the COC, said on Saturday.

The Paris Olympics, set to begin on 26 July and run through 11 August, provide an unparalleled platform for China to "make more friends, expand international sports exchanges, and help build a community with a shared future," said Gao.

The Chinese delegation, a mix of youth and experience, is poised to compete confidently against international powerhouses. They have qualified for 236 medal events in 30 sports out of the 329 events in 32 sports on the Paris 2024 program. 

This marks the largest representation of Team China in both event number and variety at an overseas edition of the Games, despite a reduction of 10 events from the Tokyo 2020 program to control size and cost.

Led by 42 Olympic champions, Team China also aims to assess its future talent against the world's best, with 223 athletes making their Olympic debut in Paris. The delegation, averaging 25 years of age, includes 136 male and 269 female athletes. Among them, 37-year-old Olympic champion race walker Liu Hong is the oldest competitor, while 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao is the youngest.

Leading China's charge among the "mighty six" sports are the all-conquering table tennis squad and the diving "dream team," both aiming for a clean sweep of gold medals in their respective disciplines.

Liu Guoliang, president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, emphasised, "We cannot take for granted that these five gold medals belong to China. All five gold medals are in Paris, reserved for the brave and the wise, for those who excel the most."

To improve competitiveness in traditionally Western-dominated sports like swimming, track and field, fencing, and cycling, the Chinese delegation has enlisted 42 foreign coaches, trainers, and medical staff from 17 countries and regions to aid their preparation for the Games.