Spain has never been so confident.
After the jinx-breaking Euro 2008 victory and some fantastic win at some of the top sports events, now it's time for the Iberians to achieve more at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to enhance their status as a strong sporting nation.
The Spanish delegation marched into the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Friday night, with heads held high.
One month before the Olympics, Spain broke all the jinxes to clinch the Euro 2008 crown. Its convincing attacking football was hailed by most of the global media and expectations have risen for the their Olympic tour.
Spain has sent 292 athletes to the Olympics, aiming at six golds or more and 20 medals for the Beijing Games.
"In terms of results, Spanish sport is enjoying its best moments ever, but we have to be prudent," said Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
"We are going to take 292 sports people, which includes six teams. Nobody except China and the US plus three more, who are taking seven teams, are taking that many. We are taking some extraordinary athletes, some of whom are a force in the world," he said.
Spain had their best-ever Olympic results on home soil in 1992, when they took 22 medals including 13 golds in Barcelona.
"We won 22 medals in Barcelona, 17 in Atlanta, 11 in Sydney and 19 in Athens. Now we are traveling to Beijing expecting to get great results," said Blanco.
"We are taking a stronger team than the ones we took to Sydney or Athens. The fact that there are six reigning world champions in our squad means that we have got really strong medal options: better than ever.
"I am not going to say a total number of medals, but there is one thing I have been thinking about for a long time. In Athens we won three gold medals and we are going to win six. That is the only number I am going to give."
Former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch is also confident about his country's Olympic prospect, saying in many occasions that "Spain would take about 20 medals including six or seven golds."
Canoeing, sailing, gymnastics and athletics are Spain's traditionally strong sports, while cycling, tennis, men's basketball and volleyball are good enough to spring surprises at the Beijing Olympics.
Blanco said of the Spanish strength: "Synchronized swimming has come on a long way as has shooting and we do well in combat sports, triathlon, gymnastics and canoeing, while the basketball team is world champion and we have a great chance in sailing. We have a whole range of sports with more quality than ever."
David Cal Figueroa, the winner of the Athens 2004 Men's C1 1,000m canoeing, is the flag-bearer for the Spanish delegation in the opening ceremony. He is ambitious to win another title this time.
Veteran gymnast Gervasio Deferr, gold medalist in both the Athens and Sydney Games, will fight for his third title in a row in Beijing.
The Spanish men's cagers beat Greece to win the World Championship in 2006. With NBA star Pau Gasol and mature tactics, they may compete for the Olympic gold against strong rivals such as the United States and defending champion Argentina.
In tennis, Spain is convinced that Rafael Nadal could clinch the men's singles title after the young talent conquered Roger Federer in Wimbledon. And it also has strong women players on the court, especially in the women's doubles.
The Spanish men's volleyball is the newly-crowned European champion, and will undoubtedly try to achieve something in the Olympics. Even in those less fancied sports like handball and water polo, Spain has big chances to take medals.
However, against its glory of winning the soccer title in the 1992 Olympics and Euro 2008, Spain didn't qualify for the Beijing Olympic soccer tournament as it didn't send ace players like Cesc Fabregas and David Silva to the crucial qualifiers. Otherwise, it could also be labelled as one of the favorites for the men's soccer title.
Blanco underlined the importance of clean sports. "We have to bear in mind that Spanish sport is clean and this is the moment for sport and sports people," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)