LONDON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Britain has set the British Olympic squad a target of finishing eighth in the medal table at the Beijing Games.

    The organization also wants British athletes to bring about 35 medals home, including 10 to 12 golds. That means the best medal performance by a British team at an unboycotted Games since 1920.

    "There is every reason to be confident medal success will be achieved," said John Steele, chief executive of UK Sport. "Beijing has the potential to be memorable Games for British athletes."

    UK Sport expects British medalists in 17 different sport, cycling (target of six medals), athletics (five), sailing (four) and rowing (four) offering the brightest prospects.

    Steele also said: "With Beijing just weeks away and also London 2012 just over four years away, everyone knows we have get to get better."

    UK Sport has already set a target of fourth place in the medal table at the 2012 London Games.

    Sport Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "We are investing a record amount of public money in our elite athletes and hope to see that transferred into medal success in Beijing this summer and then in London in 2012."

    "We have made great progress in some sports with the recent World Championship performances of our cycling and swimming teams encouraging ahead of the Games," he said.