Two satellite television channels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will offer free telecast of the upcoming 29th Olympic Games to be held in the Chinese capital of Beijing, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Monday.

Dubai Sports Channel and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel will telecast Beijing Olympics from the opening ceremony on Friday to the closing ceremony on Aug. 24, according to the report.

"We will have full coverage of the Olympics. Our channel is free and not encrypted. We are keen to provide an excellent service to all our viewers," Rashid Amiri, manager of Dubai Sports Channel, was quoted as saying.

"We will have live coverage everyday for most part of the games. The opening ceremony on Friday will be broadcast from 4 p.m. UAE time (GMT 1200 Friday). From Saturday our coverage will be from 8 a. m. to 8 p.m., with a midnight newscast," he added.

The UAE will send a team of eight athletes to Beijing Olympics, which is the largest delegation sent by the Gulf country to the Olympic Games.

Among the eight athletes, the most promising gold medal winner is Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum, who won the UAE's only Olympic gold medal at 2004 Athens Olympics in men's double trap.

Seven other athletes will represent the UAE in the games of shooting, taekwondo, equestrian, judo, sailing, swimming and athletics.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)