A total of 433 competitors competed for Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The team was Australia's second largest away team after the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, which included a team of 482 competitors. Australian athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era.
In addition to competitors, 418 officials and 38 medical personnel were part of the Australian team. Australia competed in 26 of the 28 Olympic program sports; they failed to qualify in baseball and team handball. Australia also sent a men's but not a women's football (soccer) squad, and had two beach volleyball but no indoor volleyball teams competing.
Read more about Australia At The 2008 Summer Olympics: Medalists, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field Hockey
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—Alex Atkinson, British humor writer. repr. In Present Laughter, ed. Alan Coren (1982)
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—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)