Brazil names 462-strong Olympic squad

Workers fix an advertising flag at the 2016 Rio Olympics Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 18, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil will field 462 athletes at next month's Rio Olympics, its largest ever Games squad, local officials said on Monday.

The number could increase, pending wildcard entries for athletics and changes to the tennis draw, the Brazilian Olympic Committee said.

The squad includes 253 men and 209 women, in addition to 344 coaches, medical staff and team officials.

Previously the largest Brazilian squad at an Olympic Games was 277 at the Beijing 2008 Games. At the London 2012 Games, Brazil took 259 athletes.

Track and field will have the largest number of Brazilian competitors with 67, followed by football (36) and swimming (33).

Members of the host nation's squad will begin arriving at the athletes' village this Sunday (June 24).

Women's hockey is the only event in which Brazil will not field a team, due to the country's failure to meet minimum criteria for the sport.