This appears to be the atypical mantra regards the games.

While they appeared to run smoothly, there are other questions but I guess there are always questions. I was just a little put off by the slide past some of the issues that occurred that did not and don’t appear to warrant the medias attention. Look, I don’t want a salesman I want the news,,,,

This was a comment that I thought unnecessary while sliding completely by the Chinese athletes that appear to be underage and that in fact china will not present genuine documentation as to birth certificate(s) etc. and undertook a misinformation campaign to over, but yes of course some folks cannot help it, thy have to make a dig regardless.....

The U.S. tally got a boost on Sunday when the men's millionaire basketball team beat Spain in a thrilling final.
The millionaire mens basketball team? I see.

as far as the bar being set for London, I hope the bar wasn’t set to high for limited internet access, press credentials etc. due to grim politically challenged inconveniences though.



Proud China brings curtain down on epic Games By Crispian Balmer
58 minutes ago

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Beijing Olympics ended with a flash of fireworks on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on a Games that dazzled the world with sporting brilliance and showcased the might of modern day China.

The 16-day sporting extravaganza failed to quell criticism of China's human rights record, although the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave the organizers the thumbs-up and said the Games would leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Reflecting China's new found confidence, the nation's athletes took their gold medal tally on the final day to 51 after winning their first two Olympic boxing titles, the most any country has won since the Soviet Union in Seoul in 1988.

The United States finished with 36 golds, level with their table-topping haul in 2004, but way behind the host nation.

The U.S. tally got a boost on Sunday when the men's millionaire basketball team beat Spain in a thrilling final.

There was emotion too for the American men's volleyball team, who beat Brazil to take gold and do their coach proud.

The father-in-law of coach Hugh McCutcheon was stabbed to death by a deranged man in Beijing on the first day of the Games -- a rare assault in the heavily policed Chinese capital.

In the final athletics race, Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru led an African sweep of marathon medals, lifting his arms in triumph as he sped around the Bird's Nest stadium for the last lap.

Hours later, 91,000 spectators poured into the same steel latticed stadium to see a golden crown of fireworks soar above the arena at the beginning of the closing ceremony -- the culmination of the most ambitious and expensive Games ever.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, who will officially close the Games at the ceremony, praised China for an "impeccable" operation that had set the bar very high for 2012 hosts, London.

"The world learned more about China, and China learned more about the rest of the world," Rogge told reporters on Sunday.

Proud China brings curtain down on epic Games - Yahoo! News

really and what did China learn pray tell? And yes we finished with 36 golds to 51, but we won the medal count 110 -100....but hey, who's counting.

And the IOC with the Thumbs up? Well of course, they are richer and can now suck down Vichy soise at their fashionable 5 star restaurants till London can fatten their bank accounts again.

__________________
No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

Do you really have to make an issue out of everything?

Greetings and Felicitations,

I didn't watch any of the Olympics this year because of where they were held. The human rights abuses of China gave me absolutely no ambition to support the Olympics. It amazes me that America have become such an advocate of China considering that almost everythng they represent is in direct opposition to America's supposed ideals.

Did you catch the news about China suddenly blocking the Ipod store because some group released a Free Tibet collection.

China Blocks iTunes

Sincerely Yours,
C. David Neely

__________________

The political issues stemming from these Olympic games are important, but it's also important to take a step back and recognize the advances in technology reflected in these Games. From improved venues (think the records from the Water Cube) to broadcasting online to HD programming, it's all been a huge step forward from the last Olympics. Congrats to all involved for making use of these new technological advances in an effective manner.