Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, who won Olympic gold in Athens four years ago in the 49er class, said on Thursday that they aim to do the same in China, but with a little help from the elements.

Martinez and Fernandez are ranked number one in the world and are hot favorites for gold in the Games.

"We are traveling as World leaders and as our coach says, we have been invited to the dance, so lets dance!"said Martinez in Diario AS.

However, other members of the Spanish sailing team see a possible a problem with the Olympic venue at Qingdao.

"The statistics from the past few years show that the prediction is for light winds and that could affect the competition," explained Fernando Echavarri, who will race in the Tornado class.

Nevertheless Echavarri saw grounds for hope, thanks to the recent weather in the region.

"In the last few days a cyclone affected China. Part of it affected Qingdao and that formed waves. We don't know if that will happen or not during the Olympics, but I really hopes it happens again," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2008)