"There was a fortune-telling show on Hong Kong TV predicting that shooting will take the first gold medal," said Ma Wenguang, a senior official for China's weightlifting team.

"But I just took it as a good laugh. The first gold could go to either shooting or weightlifting," Ma told a group of Chinese reporters.

Chinese officials are determined to make sure China, as the host country, wins the first gold of the Games. The women's 10m air rifle - which includes two Chinese medal favorites - has its final scheduled at 10:30 am on Aug 9 and should end about 20 minutes later.

If all goes as planned, either reigning gold medalist shooter Du Li or world champion Zhao Yinghui will raise 2008's first gold at the Beijing Shooting Range.

But in the Olympics there are no guarantees, and rumor has it that Games organizers have an alternative plan to ensure the first gold slips into China's pocket.

The woman's 48kg weightlifting final is scheduled to conclude at 11:40 am. It is an event in which China is virtually assured of a gold medal.

But if Du and Zhao are too far behind in points going into the final, the rumor says, organizers will delay the last ten shots of the final while the weightlifting final goes on as planned so China can secure the gold.