Good mental condition will be a decisive factor for the Chinese athletes to make good performance at home in the 2008 Olympics, psychologist Ding Xueqin who has been working with several national sports teams said here on Wednesday.

"It will help a lot if the psychologist can accompany the athletes to compete, providing consultation during their competitions," Ding said.

Shi Zhiyong, the Athens weightlifting champion, said Ding has helped him keep clear-minded for the Games.

"If she can talk to me during the Games, especially after I fail one lift, I will feel much better," Shi said.

Ding, a researcher with the China Institute of Sport Science said that the Chinese athletes are under great pressure although they have the advantage of competing in their home country.

"With high expectation from their compatriots, the athletes have the desire, much stronger than in any other Games, to win," she said.

Ding and her team are now working to improve the pressure endurance level of the athletes.

With the help of professional equipment, Ding gives tasks, which seem to be mission impossible for the athletes during their mental exercises.

"We used to help relieve their pressure, yet we have to increase the pressure for the Beijing Olympics," she said.

The 64-year-old Ding began to provide psychological consultation for the Chinese athletes in 1983 and has worked with China's gymnastics team and weightlifting team in the past years.

She also gives lectures to other national teams when they need.

However, "it's far from enough," she said.

She said many countries have sent their psychologists to accompany the athletes during the games.

"Athletes' mental conditions are varied from time to time, and the mental condition during the games is especially important," she said.

She said the failure of the Chinese gymnastics team at the Athens Olympics was a good example of how important the athletes' mental condition is during the games.

She said she will try her best to help Chinese athletes make splendid performance in 2008 if she can be sent with them to compete.