Members of the Olympic Delegation of China led by basketball star Yao Ming parade into the National Stadium at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 8, 2008.

The first-time Olympic host has had very impressive performance in the last few Games. After Xu Haifeng shot down China's first ever Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, China has step by step become a world sports powerhouse.

Chinese athletes finished with 32 gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games, second only to 36 claimed by the United States.

Expectations are high that China will improve on that tally on home soil. However, Chinese sports officials have played down hopes of overtaking the United States in the medal table.

"The United States and Russia are still the strongest powers in world sports, our goal is to finish on top of the 'second group' at the Beijing Games," said Cui Dalin, China's deputy chef-de-mission.