Specificity in your Goals - do you need to use numbers?

In a newspaper article yesterday Libby Lenton denounced the need for the Australian Olympic Committee to set specific numbers on how many Medals would be won at the Beijing Olympic Games. She felt there was no need for 'pressure' for athletes to live up to certain expectations.
I disagree on two counts.
1. Pressure is something we place on ourselves by how we direct our thinking. Putting a figure on a desired outcome can have one person thinking 'towards' that goal with a sense of possibility - I/we CAN win x medals. Contrast that with another person who thinks with 'away' motivation and feels a sense of necessity - I/we HAVE to win x medals. This is often associated with an underlying question - what if I don't? or an underlying fear - what if I can't?
2. A specific and measurable figure gives one a specific target to work towards. If one doesn't reach that figure, it doesn't have to mean 'failure'. If Australia win 7 Gold rather than a projected 8 Gold in the swimming pool, it is still a success. By going for the specific figure an individual or a team has something on which to guage performance. How do you know how hard to train, how much work to do unless you know what you are aiming for.
Magic can happen too when you start being more specific. Think of your unconscious mind like a 7-8 year old child who needs to know EXACTLY what it is you want to direct you towards results. Do you want to be successful? How successful? What does that mean for you? You can find out more on how the unconscious mind determines your results at www.annetteffect.com.au