KEY POINTS:
Four years of planning, sweat and toil is put to the test from tomorrow - and that's just the athletes.
For China, it has been seven years since they secured the Olympic Games. It was a massive coup and they are intent on ensuring the world sees them in the best possible light. No expense is spared. The scale of operations is immense.
To be strictly accurate, the athletic pursuit of gold has already begun, the women's soccer tournament getting the 29th Games of the modern era - quaintly named considering this "modern" began 102 years ago - under way on Wednesday night.
It's actually the 26th Games in which competition took place, as those scheduled for 1916, 1940 and 1944 were cancelled due to more weighty global matters.
The Football Ferns got New Zealand's programme started with an encouraging 2-2 draw against the far higher-rated Japan.
It could have been better too, as they let slip a 2-0 lead with 35 minutes to play.
Might that be the way New Zealand's Olympics are seen by the end of the month? To paraphrase the old school report: "did well, could have done better".
Not if the drums being beaten by athletes and officials prove true. Confidence is high, which is good. If you don't fancy your chances you shouldn't be here.
But first some numbers. It's hard to get a handle on exactly how many Chinese are working the Games in a voluntary capacity.
But when something needs doing they simply throw people at the problem.
The other day champion rower Rob Waddell told a story, with a degree of awe in his voice. Rowing officials decided to trim the weed and grass on the edge of the Shunyi course.
"They brought in 500 metres of people. It was amazing," he said.
The numbers for the Olympics go like this: 205 countries fielding 10,708 athletes, contesting 28 sports for which there are 302 events, therefore 906 medals on offer, spread across 37 venues.
One of the mantras drummed into the volunteers when approached by foreigners is to "kill them with kindness" and it's being carried out to a tee. Nothing seems too much trouble. You average three helpers for every problem. "Smiling Beijing" is the theme for the Games volunteers.
The first seven medals will be decided tomorrow - the men's road race, women's individual sabre, men's 10m air rifle, women's 10m pistol, women's 48kg weightlifting and two judo titles, men's under 60kg and women's under 48kg.
Julian Dean will be in the cycling race. What price the in-form 33-year-old from Rotorua, fresh off a strong Tour de France, pocketing the 81st Olympic medal by a New Zealander?
New Zealand's best chances were identified some time ago. Little has changed. The ambition is to top the 13 medals won in Seoul in 1988.
In no particular order, the frontline gold contenders are single sculler Mahe Drysdale - looking to complete the perfect set leading into an Olympics, after three successive world championship titles - double scullers Waddell and Nathan Cohen; shot putter Valerie Vili and BMX rider Sarah Walker.
Vili and Walker are world champions; Waddell and Cohen have fashioned a formidable record in a matter of months, with back-to-back World Cup titles in Europe.
Then there's a host of other New Zealanders who are being talked of in terms of a podium finish, spearheaded by the likes of triathlete Bevan Docherty, rowers George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle in the coxless pair, board sailor Tom Ashley, another current world champion, and swimmer Moss Burmester.
The ageless Barbara Kendall, whose Olympic record since Barcelona in 1992 reads, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th is a solid chance for a fourth medal.
As for the internationals, who would want to be in Liu Xiang's shoes when he attempts to win the 110m hurdles gold.
Remember Cathy Freeman in her one-piece suit winning the 400m in Sydney, with all the emotion swirling around her, winning for her nation, and her people? So it is for Liu, and basketball giant Yao Ming.
Immortality awaits these men in particular as they are the superstars, but also for anyone else who wins gold on home soil for this fervently patriotic country.
There is massive pride at stake. There's a saying going round for the Chinese at these Games: "One gold is worth 1000 silvers."
The track and field programme is the centre piece of all Olympics.
But by the time it begins, a lanky 23-year-old from Baltimore might have swept all before him with an unprecedented eight golds in the pool.
Step forward Mike Fred Phelps.
If he does that, breaking Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record, he will be the athlete whose name will forever be linked with these Games.
