IF THE quadrennial search is for the next Nadia Comaneci, then this year's sweetheart will have no opportunity to achieve scoreboard perfection or inspire a film starring the 2008 equivalent of Bo Derek.
A new scoring system will make its Olympic debut in Beijing, where two photogenic Americans are vying to emulate the all-around deeds of such darlings as Mary Lou Retton and, of course, the great Comaneci.
Several scoring controversies from Athens four years ago , including one that cost Korean Yang Tae-young the men's all-around gold, prompted the overhaul of a code of points that expired after the 2005 world championships in Melbourne. Scores are now the sum of two parts: one for difficulty and the other for artistic execution.
But Comaneci is among those lamenting the demise of quantifiable flawlessness. "I kind of created the 10 and I feel bad it went away," the five-time Olympic gold medallist said. "I'm not happy about it. It belongs to gymnastics. I feel, after so many years, everyone identifies the 10 with the sport of gymnastics. Now it's like we've given the branding away."
What the new open-ended system does do, however, is allow the judges more room to manoeuvre, and the competition between US teenagers Shawn Johnson - the reigning world champion in the all-around and on the floor - and her elegant teammate and rival Nastia Liukin could come down to less than a point. The younger Johnson is the slight favourite and much is at stake. Fame. Wealth. Cereal box endorsements.
Johnson apparently ran off in fright when she saw a life-sized cut-out of herself next to a Coca-Cola display in her local supermarket in Des Moines, Iowa but she is also on ice-cream wrappers and juice containers and one of the faces of McDonald's. She will, her agent has predicted, be "the breakout star of these Games".
But not if Liukin can help it, and the 18-year-olddaughter of Seoul gold medallist Valeri Liukin and former world rhythmic champion Anna Kochneva has the superior pedigree, as well as a comparable list of endorsed products ranging from deodorant to credit cards. A dual world champion, Liukin is a chance for gold on the uneven bars and balance beam, as well as in the all-around.
For Australia, Queensland's Olympic debutant Sam Simpson is the sole male competitor and needs only to surpass Phil Rizzo's 29th place in the all-around in Sydney to be considered a success. Dasha Joura is our women's standout, with two top-10 placings in the all-around from only two senior world title appearances, and a terrific floor routine. Next is team baby, 17-year-old Lauren Mitchell, a graduate of the successful WAIS program, and fifth on beam at last year's worlds. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Scoring: The end of the perfect 10. The 2006 overhaul of the scoring system takes effect at Olympic level for the first time, and Nadia Comaneci is among those who do not approve. The new system combines an "A" score for difficulty and a "B" for execution (with a maximum value of 10). Winning totals should range from 15s to low 17s, depending on the apparatus. Confusing, yes? Perfect? Not quite.
The big duel (1): Host nation China against the all-star American team in the women's all-around. Less than a point decided last year's world title, won by the US, but the technically excellent Chinese are determined to improve on what has been, relatively, a modest Olympic record. The so-called "Athens Waterloo" produced a single gold medal. This gymnastics-loving nation expects - demands - better this time.
The big duel (2): It would not be an Olympics without a gymnastics golden girl, and this time there are two - Americans Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin. Friendly but intense rivals with millions of endorsement dollars, and cereal-box appearances, on the line. Johnson is dynamic and powerful; Liukin is the lean and elegant daughter of Russian gymnastics royalty. Who will be the next darling? Fascinating.
The men: As Sydney silver medallist Yang Wei is the all-around favourite, so his Chinese team also leads the contenders for collective gold, having made a long-overdue breakthrough in 2000, only to lose the crown to rejuvenated power Japan four years later. The pressure will be immense, but anything less than domination by the Chinese will be a boilover for the host nation.
All about us: Australia's poor performance at the world championships cost medal chances Phil Rizzo and Prashanth Sellathurai the chance to compete, leaving all-arounder Sam Simpson one-out in tomorrow's qualifications. The women snuck into 11th spot and will supply any medals. Team bronze would be golden; watch for Dasha Joura in the all-around and the floor exercise, and Lauren Mitchell on beam.