Sailing has been an Olympic sport since the first events were held in Paris in 1900, and has featured regularly since 1908 after one gap.
The sailing regatta at Beijing 2008 is held in Qingdao, in Shandong province, whose 7.2 million residents are eagerly anticipating the Games.
China has made its mark in international sailing before: windsurfers Zhang Xiaodong and Yin Jian won silver in Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004 respectively, and the Chinese women's team has won the world title three times; the men won their first world title in 2002.
"Our goal is to finish in the top 8 at the 2008 Olympics," said coach Wang Ying (source: people.com.cn). It remains to be seen what 2008 in Qingdao has in store.
