Things to watch at the Beijing Olympics

1 Michael Phelps. The U.S. swimmer will try for eight - yes, eight - gold medals, starting Saturday.

2 Debuts. BMX, bicycle motocross for the uninitiated, and open-water swimming appear on the Olympic schedule.

3 Tumbling. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin lead the U.S. women's gymnastics team and each wants the individual all-around title.

4 Speed. Tyson Gay wants the title of "World's Fastest Man," which requires winning the 100 meters. Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt of Jamaica want the title, too.

5 Mom. Dara Torres is 41, a mother, and five-time Olympian. She'll swim in the 50-meter freestyle amid questions about whether chemicals are part of her regimen.

6 Superpower hoops. Starting with Sunday's game against China and Yao Ming, Lower Merion's Kobe Bryant and coach Mike Krzyzewski try to lead the United States back to the gold medal after a bronze performance in 2004.

7 Pressure. Liu Xiang won China's first track and field gold medal in the 110 high hurdles in Athens. He might carry China's flag in the opening ceremonies. Only 1.3 billion people expect him to win again.

8 Medal counts. China is trying to push the United States off the top of the podium.

1 China. The world's most populous country is showing off for the world. The lasting images could influence world politics for years.

2 Pollution. The Chinese banned cars, shut factories and fired shells into the clouds. But if the pollution is thick enough to block the sun, is it safe to run a marathon?

3 George Bush. The president arrived yesterday after criticizing China's human-rights record. China told him to mind his own business. He will attend the opening ceremonies and some events.

4 Doping. The International Olympic Committee guesses several dozen athletes will test positive. If the IOC catches more than before, is it a good sign of better detection and enforcement, or a bad sign that past penalties have not deterred enough cheaters?

5 Terrorism. China says there are threats despite overwhelming security. Did we mention those ground-to-air missiles near the stadium?

6 Freedom of speech. The message about this was blocked by Chinese censors.

7 Business. U.S. companies want to sell products here and in China. McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, and Visa are among the IOC's world sponsors for this Olympics.

8 NBC. The network and its parent, General Electric, have invested billions in China. Though some dispute NBC's math, the network claims it will broadcast 3,600 hours of programming on multiple networks and online.