Pressure builds on China's athletes

With the hopes of the host nation pinned upon them, China's star athletes Liu Xiang and Yao Ming are starting to sweat.

Yao is recovering from a foot injury and Liu pulled out of one race due to injury and was disqualified from another because of a false start. Many are left wondering whether the pressure on the two Chinese sports stars is too great.

Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri reports.

SOUNDBITES:

Yao Ming, China Olympic Basketball Player, saying (Mandarin):
"As far as I'm concerned, the Olympics is the most magnificent opportunity in my life. But great competition always brings pressure. I have to face two challenges: pressure and possible glory. You can't have one without the other."

Cathy Freeman, Australian Gold Medalist at the Sydney Olympics