Can China grab more gold medals at the coming Olympics at home than the 32 it did in Athens four years ago?

If yes, how many more?

Can China's "dream squads" put all the golds on offer for the table tennis, badminton, and diving competitions, in which Chinese have demonstrated overwhelming superiority over the years, into their pockets?

Can Liu Xiang, the wildly popular 110m hurdler, surprise Dayron Robles, the new record-holder, and snatch the gold in a new head-to-head race on home soil?

And, perhaps more illusive than real, can the notoriously weak men's soccer team make it to the top eight?

As the Games draws closer, the domestic media seem to be fretting with guesses.

While many believe the all-round benefits of favorable timing, host-country privileges, and home audience support give the Chinese delegation every reason to perform better than ever, we share the concern that high public expectations may very likely end up adding to the psychological burdens on our athletes.

As host of the 2008 Olympic Games, our overriding task is to play that role well. Just like what the national leadership has promised, we should try to present a Games that lives up to the expectations of participating athletes, as well as of spectators at home and abroad.

It would be a plus if our athletes can collect more gold medals than they have done elsewhere. They will try their best. About that we do not have to worry.

The best thing the spectators and the people in general can do in order to show support is, we believe, to stop the guessing game, forget about who gets what in the coming competitions, and sit back to wait for the Games to begin.

That is good for us, because it allows us to enjoy what sports is really about.

That is good for the athletes, in that it avoids putting extra pressures on their shoulders.

Even in areas where our athletes have clear advantages, there have been failures, in which nervousness had a role.

Not to mention that most of the guesswork is based on ideal conditions such as our athletes do well and others do not outperform them. In the real world of competitions, this is of little practical value; it only puts unnecessary - and even harmful - pressures on them.

For our own joy's sake, lower expectations may be a better bet - they can bring more pleasant surprises. And the best way to nurture the expectations is to keep them to ourselves.

While we wish our athletes the best at the coming Games, we will not be disappointed as long as they try their best, and display fine sportsmanship.

(China Daily August 1, 2008)