THAT the Beijing Olympics lacked the sunny exuberance of Sydney 2000 was no surprise. Smoggy Beijing isn't renowned for its clear skies or spontaneity.
China is known for its authoritarian government, its recent astonishingly successful flirtation with tightly controlled capitalism and for its strong desire to be
accepted as an important player on the world stage. The Beijing Olympics put all those factors on display in a genuinely historic performance.
In some respects sport was secondary to the spectacle of an emerging world power flexing its still-developing muscles.
Against the backdrop of that broad theme were several sub-plots, such as the continuous tussle between pro-Tibet protesters and Chinese authorities and the running feud between some Western media and the games organisers.
The apparent reignition of Cold War-style hostilities between Russia and the West, played out in a short, brutal military exchange in the Caucasus, was an unwelcome distraction.
As an exercise for the benefit of China's home audience, the games were a huge success. Chinese athletes easily topped the gold medal tally.
Undoubtedly the most memorable athletes of Beijing 2008 were American swimmer and multi-medallist Michael
Phelps and powerhouse Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Phelps won a record eight gold medals at Beijing, making him, on medals alone, the greatest Olympian of
all time. Bolt's extraordinary pace put paid to the idea that sprinters have virtually reached the limit of human
performance, outrunning his rivals with metres and effort to spare.
London calling
For Australia the Games may have been considered something of a sporting anti-climax. High hopes for gold medals from the male swimming team were not realised,
Grant Hackett's anticipated golden handshake from Olympic competition didn't materialise, Lake Macquarie's world champion 49er sailing pair lost gold under
controversial circumstances and early optimistic predictions of a big Australian gold medal haul proved ill-founded.
But there were some stunning performances, particularly from Australia's female competitors. Stephanie Rice's haul of three gold medals won't be quickly forgotten, but
nor should extremely courageous efforts, from fellow swimmer Libby Trickett, triathlete Emma Snowsill, hurdler Sally McLellan, cyclist Anna Meares or sailor Elise Rechichi.
Where Australia gave ground in medal-winning expectations, Great Britain took up the slack, surging unexpectedly ahead of its perennial antipodean rival. This sets the scene for London, where the next Olympics are to be held in 2012, and signals that the home team will be difficult to beat.
Sport aside, perhaps the most significant legacy of China's Olympics will prove to be the opportunity it gave for the world to take a closer look at an emerging great power and for that great power to be exposed to a broad spectrum of the international community in the context of friendly rivalry and competition.
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