Ecuador will sent 177 athletes to compete in 24 disciplines of the November 9 to November 19 South American Games (Odesur) in Argentina, Luis Zambrano head of the Ecuador Olympic Committee (COE) technical department told media on Thursday.

The country's National Sports Ministry will give the C0E 350,742 U.S. dollars to support the event; a sum that is ring-fenced for the Odesur, Zambrano said.

The 177 shortlisted athletes will train together only in the last few days before they leave, Zambrano said.

A lack of economic support could affect athletes' performance, Zambrano said, adding that the EOC had not been able to give the athletes all the help they need.

He said that Ecuador was likely to win 20 gold medals, and that the highest possible figure was 90 medals. He estimated that with 20 medals, Ecuador would match its fifth place achieved at the Brazilian Odesur held four years ago.

The official athletes' meeting will be on Wednesday next week at the COE's Guayas headquarters, where the Committee will hold a ceremony officially delivering the flag to the team's leader Hugh Chila.

Ecuador's strengths are weightlifting, shooting and athletics. Zambrano expects 15 of the nation's 20 forecast medals to come from these three sports.