Australia expects fewer medals at Beijing

SYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) Australia will find it tough to retain a top-five Olympic position at the Beijing Games with the likes of Britain and Germany making advances, the Australian Olympic Committee president said today.

John Coates said increased investment by European nations could demote Australia from the fourth spot it recorded at the last two Olympics.

''Germany has finally got its act together after unification, it has never been as strong as the two Germanys were separately,'' Coates said at the launch of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival taking place next January.

Coates said that according to benchmarks Australia carries out, Germany, which had trailed the Australians by only one or two medals at the last two Games, had overtaken.

''When we add the swimming and track and field results I think we will end up fifth this year,'' Coates said.

''It (finishing in the top five in Beijing) is a realistic objective, but a lot of money is being spent in a lot of other countries in terms of funding.'' Coates said Britain, set to host the 2012 Games in London, had made significant gains since funding from lotteries entered the equation.

''Britain has set the goal of finishing fourth (at the 2008 Beijing Olympics), which means replacing us and there's a lot of friendly rivalry between us,'' Coates said.

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