Top Chinese sports officials have kept playing down hopes of overhauling the United States for the first place in the medals table of the Beijing Olympics, but the host's ambition is hard to be hidden from the public.

"A wise man talks rarely but acts quickly," said Chinese ancient philosopher Confucius. More than 2,550 years later, his philosophy is still popular among modern Chinese who believe in the importance of being modest and keeping low profile when trying to do something big.

"Our objective is to keep our position on top of the 'Second Group' at the medals table, and I think we can reap 20 gold medals if we perform to normal standard," Li Furong had said before the Chinese sports delegation headed to Athens four years ago.

But Chinese athletes turned out to claim 12 more golds than the former chef-de-mission predicted, making China stand the second only behind the United States, which took home 36 golds. The happy surprise sent the whole country into tremendous celebrations.

Four years after the Athens Games, the expectations of ordinary Chinese were even higher as the Olympics were going to be held for the first time in the country with a history of over 5,000 years.

"I am not sure how many gold medals we can win this time, but I guess it may be more than 32," said Wang Chengcai, a 60-year-old retired engineer who lives within two kilometers from the Bird's Nest.

"I think our athletes will have better performances than they did in Athens," he added.

Zhang Haifeng, spokesman for the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), said at a press conference on July 22 that the Chinese sports delegation would strive for more than 32 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. However, his statement was overruled by the COC with a written press release the following day.

"The Chinese Olympic Committee has never made predictions about the medals," it read. "What Mr. Zhang Haifeng has said is only his personal wish."