Chinese Olympic champions including diving prince Tian Liang are set to appear together with seven-time Formula one world champion Michael Schumacher at an official reception ahead of the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

Organizers are preparing a reception on Friday night after the race's first two free practices for its Chinese debut, to kick of fon the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday.

Max Mosley, president of the International Automobile Federation, Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichelloare on the guest list, an anonymous official confirmed to Xinhua here on Tuesday.

"A number of celebrities and VIPs will turn up at the reception, in which Tian and Guo will be an extra surprise for the Chinese spectators," said the official, who is in charge of the banquet.

Tian Liang and his hearsay girlfriend Guo Jingjing, double Olympic diving champion in Athens, will join Schumacher at the beginning of the reception.

Also among the VIPs to the banquet are members from the International Olympic Committee, according to the official. He did not identify them, though.

Yu Zhifei, deputy general manager of the Shanghai track, told a Chinese F1 forum last week that organizers would invite some Chinese stars for the pre-race activities.

"For it's held in China, and I think Chinese people would like to see their own heroes to participate in the brand-new but internationally elite sport," he said.