German Olympic Committee (GOC) President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday that his athletes cannot wait to take part in the competitions at Beijing Games as homelike services helped them store up strengh and energy.

After a flag-raising ceremony at the Olympic Village, Bach highly praised the preparation work of the Beijing Organizing Committee, describing it as "excellent and brilliant".

"Our athletes lived very well here and just feel like at home. The rooms are comfortable and the food is very delicious," said Bach.

"In a word, everything goes on smoothly and my athletes is ready and looking forward to the fierce sport competitions." he added.

Chef de mission Michael Vesper told Xinhua that his delegation will arrive in Beijing with 80 scheduled flights in succession.

Composed of a total of more than 450 athletes, Germany boast the biggest delegation in the Western Europe, aiming to match at least the sixth-place finish they achieved in Athens four years ago.

Among them, Yvonne Bohnisch, the gold medalist at Athens Games, would become Germany's brightest prospects in the judo arena.

"It's my second Olympics but first time in Beijing. Everything looks great," said Yvonne, adding that German judokas were in good form and ready for the Games.

"Though judo is a traditional discipline in East Asia, it's becoming more and more popular among young people in Germany. We aim to get two or three medals in this event."

Germany has witnessed the backslides in the past two Olympics.

In Sydney, they won 57 medals including 14 golds and finished fifth on the medal tally. But in Athens, the medal tally reduced to 49 with 13 golds and Germany was surpassed by the resurgent Japan, well behind sports powerhouses the United States, China, Russia and Australia.

If they hope to stop the slide in the sweltering heat in August, the "ice and snow kings" who had topped the medal table at the 2006 Turin Winter Games, had to fuel their medals drive on the traditional disciplines.

Canoeing, handball, hockey, women's football and the equestrian are Germany's favorite events in summer Games.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)