In a land where eight is a lucky number, the Beijing Olympics and Michael Phelps may be a match made in heaven.
The greatest show on earth, opening on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008, provides a perfect platform for the US swimmer to become the first athlete to win eight gold medals at a single Games.
The men's 100 metres, the showcase event repeatedly ruptured by doping scandals, could further push the boundaries of human endeavour when world champion Tyson Gay of the US lines up against world record holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, both Jamaicans.
Against a backdrop of national pride and stunning architecture, it would be no surprise if hosts China oust the United States from the top of the medals table in a significant break with the post-war order.
Spain's Rafael Nadal, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon, could also end his Swiss rival Roger Federer's Olympic dream.
The opening week in the 'Water Cube' pool, where finals are held in the morning for prime time television in the United States, will be dominated by Phelps's quest to smash fellow American Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven golds in a single Games.
With an arm span exceeding his height, the 23-year-old bagged six golds in an eight-medal haul in Athens four years ago and the hype has been mounting ever since.
Even if he wins just half of his eight events, Phelps will still be the most prolific gold medallist the Olympics have ever witnessed.
Despite the absence of disgraced 2004 winner Justin Gatlin, one of track and field's many doping casualties in the four years since Athens, the men's 100 metres promises to light up the Bird's Nest stadium.
Given the right conditions on Aug. 16, Bolt's recent world record of 9.72 seconds could be tested. However, the high humidity and chronic Beijing smog are already casting a cloud of concern over the closing men's Marathon event on Aug. 24.
Jamaica's Bolt has also entered his preferred 200 metres, attempting an Olympic sprint double last accomplished by nine times gold medallist Carl Lewis in 1984.
His will be a tough task but nothing in comparison to the burden felt by Olympic and world champion Liu Xiang, carrying the hopes of 1.3 billion compatriots in his 110 metres hurdles duel against Cuba's world record holder Dayron Robles.
Only Yao Ming, the towering Houston Rockets centre who leads China's basketball challenge, can match the slender runner for popular affection.
Russian world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva looks a racing certainty for the women's pole vault title while Kenyan teenager Pamela Jelimo appears unstoppable in the 800 metres.
In the men's 400 metres, Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner will be pushed hard by fellow American LaShawn Merritt while Ethiopia's Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele has an intriguing 10,000 metres battle with compatriot Haile Gebrselassie.
Doping tests will be more widespread than ever, with 25 per cent more scheduled than at Athens.
BMX cycling will become the newest sport, while swimming returns to its Olympic origins with men's and women's 10km open water races.
South African swimmer Natalie du Toit, who lost a leg in a road accident in 2001, will swim that distance to become the first athlete to compete in both the Paralympics and Olympics.