Russia will send a 900-member delegation to the Beijing Olympic Games in August, including 470 athletes, said a sports official on Tuesday.

So far, 408 athletes have been qualified for the sports events in the Chinese capital, a senior official of the Russian Olympic Committee told the State Duma, lower house of the parliament.

Most of the athletes are from mega cities of the state, including 295 from the Moscow City and 75 from the northern capital St. Petersburg.

Russian delegation is always among the top three list in terms of medals in latest Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2008)