Algeria hoping 'home Games' make up for Tokyo disappointment

Algeria is hoping the support of the millions of French people who have their roots in the North African country will make the Paris Olympics as good as a home Games for their team in July and August.

World championship silver medallist Djamel Sedjati, who carries the torch for the strong tradition of Algerian middle-distance running, will again be the most high-profile medal hopeful as he looks to make up for his Tokyo heartbreak.

Algeria took 41 athletes, including 13 women, to the Japanese capital three years ago to compete in 14 sports but Sedjati and steeplechaser Bilal Tabti failed COVID-19 tests on arrival and were ruled out of the Games.

Sedjati's time of one minute, 43.23 seconds in the 800 metres at the Stockholm Diamond League last month was the fifth best in the world this year, making him a real chance to add to the 17 medals Algerians have won since their first Olympics in 1964.

Four of Algeria's five gold Olympic medals have come in middle distance running through Taoufik Makhloufi, Noureddine Morceli, Hassiba Boulmerka and Nouria Merah-Benida.

Kheireddine Barbari, the head of the Algerian delegation at the Paris Olympics, told Reuters that medal hopes in Paris were not limited to the athletics track.

"As you know, the Olympic Games are the strongest global sporting competition and it is difficult to predict the medals and their colours," he said.

"Algeria has champions who have the qualities and traditions of appearing on podiums, such as in boxing and athletics as well as gymnastics.

"Preparation programmes are going 100 per cent according to plans, and we firmly believe that our athletes will give their best to honour the national flag."

Barbari expects the team to exceed the size of that for Tokyo and the