As it heads into more medal races, the Olympic Sailing Regatta is drawing even wider attention with spectators lining the sailing venue. The keenest are probably families and friends of athletes.

Cynthia Goodison arrived on the spectator breakwater half an hour before the first round of the men's Laser-class race started on August 12.

She was there to cheer her son Paul Goodison, a medal favorite from the United Kingdom.

He won both Olympic test events in Qingdao in 2006 and 2007. Yet after the first day of Olympic racing he was far below expectations - he ranked 15th.

But Mrs. Goodison had confidence in her son. "I am sure he will soon catch up and perform well," she said.

Paul lived up to his mother's confidence and ranked first after yesterday's sixth race.

Since Aug 11, there were men's 470-class races every day, and Helen Geronti from Greece sat at the breakwater waving a flag and looking to the sea where her boyfriend Andreas Papadopoulos was competing. The Greek team placed 12th and didn't make it to the medal race.

Supporting Andreas was Helen's main purpose in Qingdao.

"I didn't think that he must win a medal. I just hoped he can give it his best," she said. "Of course a medal would be much better."

Accompanying Helen are her father and Andreas' parents.

The Papadopouloses are a sailing family - all three sons love sailing. Their father Thanassis is also a sailor.

"It is in our blood," Thanassis said proudly.

He taught Andreas when he was a child.

"But now, all I can do is to give him full support and cheer him," Thanassis told China Daily.

The Conti parents from Italy came to Qingdao to cheer their daughter Giulia in women's 470 class.

Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol finished seventh in the last race before the medal race.

"I prayed for fine weather and brisk winds when Giulia started her competition in Qingdao," her mother said.

The father declined to reveal his thoughts. "I have already had my answer in my mind. Now I am just waiting for the right time to say it," he said.

Among all the cheering sections, perhaps China's sailor in Star-class Wang He boasts the largest. With his mother as the cheerleader, more than 60 relatives and friends stood on the bank, yelling encouragement.

"He did not perform well, but he participated in the Olympics for China so I still think he is a hero," said Wang's mother.

Fans from different countries and regions cheer for their athletes during the sailing competition. [Ju Chuanjiang, Ju Chenghao/China Daily]

(China Daily August 18, 2008)