Gold medals to be awarded: 2

Dates of competition: Aug. 9-22

Among the most heavily favored competitors during the 2008 Olympics will be the American beach volleyball tandem of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

They are the defending Olympic champions and are playing at almost the same level they did when they won 90 matches in a row over 11 months in 2003-04.

This will be the fourth Olympics for beach volleyball and, as usual, it should draw a crowd.

The most difficult challenge for the American stars will likely come from Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China. They won the silver medal at the 2005 world championships.

Brazil's Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego are the defending men's champions and will be favored to repeat. They will be challenged by current world champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the United States. Dalhausser presents an imposing figure at the net with his 6-foot-9 frame.