(Beijing, 16 April ) - The second day of competition for the Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification Tournament 2008 on Thursday, 17 April features the first of the Team competition routines, the Team Technical.
 
Competition will start at 15:00 at the National Aquatics Center with six teams, including Spain, Japan, Greece, Canada, Italy and Ukraine, competing not only for podium honours but also for the remaining Olympic qualification places.
 
Teams will perform two routines in this Tournament, a Technical and Free routine, with the combined scores (50 percent from each routine) deciding the medallists and after the Free routines on Saturday, 19 April.
 
The Technical routine requires each Team to perform a routine containing the required elements in prescribed order.
 
Favourites:
Gemma Mengual (ESP) and Andrea Fuentes (ESP) led after day one of the Duet competition on Tuesday, 16 April and will now join their teammates for the Team competition.

Spain is an accomplished group and has challenged Olympic and World champion Russia in this event at recent international competitions. Spain is the reigning European champion, who is renowned for the technical execution and innovative choreography of its Team routines.

Challengers:
Japan battled Spain for the minor medals in the Team Technical final at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Japan finished just ahead of Spain with the silver medal and will be hoping to emulate this performance at this Tournament.

Japan won the silver medal behind Russia at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece but has a different team due to retirement of athletes including Miya Tachibana (JPN).

Olympians Harada Saho (JPN) and  Suzuki Emiko (JPN) will lead the team as they also seek to qualify as one of the eight NOCs for the 2008 Olympic Games Team competition.

Other:
Canada has a new routine for the Team Technical, with coaches Denise Sauve (CAN) and Julie Sauve (CAN) drawing on inspiration from men's fashion shows for this routine.

Canada finished out of the medals in the Team competition at the 2004 Olympic Games for the first time since the Team event was introduced at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA and is looking to reinstate themselves in the top three teams in the sport.

Italy, Ukraine and Greece finished seventh to ninth respectively in the Team Technical final at the 2007 World Championships and will need to show similar form if they hope to qualifiy for the Olympic Games.