Britain targets at least 48 medals for Rio Olympics

LONDON (AP) Britain hopes to win at least 48 medals at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, below the initial target but still representing a record for a games on foreign soil.

UK Sport, the body which funds elite athletes in Britain, announced its medal targets Thursday for the Aug. 15-21 Olympics and Sept. 7-18 Paralympics.

The Olympic target is between 48 and 79 medals, which would exceed the 47 won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the most for Britain at an ''away'' games.

Britain won 65 medals, including 29 gold, at the 2012 London Olympics. UK Sport initially set an even higher target for Rio, but scaled back.

UK Sport targets cycling for the most medals, at least eight, followed by track and field (seven) and rowing (six).

The agency targets at least 121 medals for the Paralympics.