Some people in China believe it is possible, as a coxswain, who steers a rowing-boat in the men's and women's eight rowing events. And he or she may be selected through an open competition with the help of a reality TV show like American Idol.

Each of the 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the Chinese mainland has picked 10 candidates - five men and five women - after heated contests judged by panels of experts which included rowing coaches, psychologists and kinesthesiologists.

The 310 candidates will soon enter the second phase of the competition, an Internet-based contest which requires them to use personal blogs and instant message tools to prove themselves to all netizens, whose voting will play a major role in the selection.

A total of 80 candidates will be chosen by November, after which 20 finalists will be voted on by judges and TV audiences in weekly reality shows that will test stamina, leadership skills and ability to withstand stress.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, called the contest an "interesting initiative" and hoped that "the competition will have a positive impact on the development of sports and Olympic values in China."

Some people, though, have expressed concern over an event that combines sports and entertainment.

Krzysztof Korzeniowski, head coach of the US national men's rowing team, warned China to be more cautious in the reality-show style competition.

"It's a very interesting and innovative idea but also a risky one," Korzeniowski said.

"You are going to take someone who may have never been in a boat. There is a lot for them to cover in two years," the coaching guru observed when he visited Beijing last week. But he also acknowledged that on-the-spot performance is as important as experience. "Even a veteran coxswain might make mistakes. A nationwide search for a potential great coxswain might be an effective way to make a miracle in the rowing events."

Huang Xiaoping, a national rowing team coach, justified the contest:"It might seem dubious that someone could become skilful enough to become an Olympian just in one year, but coxswains are a unique breed of athlete, relying more on their mental agility and powerful vocal chords than bulging brawn."

Wei Di, head of the Water Sports Administration Centre under the General Administration of Sports, said the competition is not just a reality show. It is intended to encourage everybody in China to take part in the Olympic celebration.

Unlike table tennis, diving and gymnastics, in which China has traditionally been strong, western-style rowing does not have a large following in the world's most populous country. The organizers, the State General Administration of Sports and China Central Television (CCTV), the State-run TV monopoly, believe the reality-show style contest for coxswain will rally the public behind the obscure sport and create a new Chinese rowing tradition.

Coxswains currently on China's national team will also take part.

"The coxswains of our national team should join in the competition, otherwise the whole exercise would just be fooling the public," Wei said.

Zheng Na, a coxswain in the national women's team, is among the current ten winners in the Beijing venue. She has 15 years of experience as a coxswain and has participated in many world-class events.

"Compared with other participants, I have more experience in rowing," Zheng said. "But the competition itself serves as a learning course and all participants, including myself, have learnt a lot from one another."

Coach Huang said the professional coxswains will not have every advantage in the competition. "Professional coxswains are rich in experience, but the green hands have more curiosity to learn and to win," Huang said. "And the competition includes few requirements of professional knowledge and skills."

Can China train world-class coxswains in two years if it starts with the right raw material? We are going to find out.