Beijing - Speculation intensified on Friday that China's former gymnast Li Ning would light the flame in the cauldron during the Olympic opening ceremony, state media said.
"The hot tip on who will light the Olympic flame at the Olympic Games opening ceremony tonight is gymnastics legend Li Ning," the official Xinhua news agency said.
Li, 45, won three gold medals, two silver and one bronze in gymnastics in 1984, and nowadays is a successful businessman with his own sports goods company.
Li has been mentioned as a prime candidate for the cauldron-lighting since officials suggested about one week ago that the chosen person was not a current athlete, ruling out popular sports stars such as Liu Xiang and Yao Ming.
But some online speculators on Friday afternoon still favoured Fu Mingxia, a retired four-time gold medallist and celebrity "diving queen", to get the honour of being the final torch bearer as the 2008 Games begin. (dpa)
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