The " almost " Olympics.

The Bejing Olympics will go down in history as a strange contest between a fanatical government and the world of sport in the quest for perfection.

Few could complain about the venue. Thirty billion dollars was spent to provide the best facilities the world has seen. The opening ceremony was a masterpiece of entertainment and the planners had every right to include digital themes and mime artists to achieve a television spectacular for the world.

And yet there is something missing. Many events are played out to rows of empty seats. There are no milling, smiling crowds in the public spaces surrounding the Olympic venues. That missing something is - atmosphere.

Perhaps it is a case of the Chinese Communist government trying too hard. There is a perception that everything is being stage managed to the smallest degree - and this has become intimidating to the Chinese people who are not sure what is expected of them.

Security is tight - and it has to be. People are dead from bomb attacks in the Muslim majority areas of China and threats have been made against the Olympic venue.
Tibet and it's quest for autonomy is an ever present threat that could boil over at any time - and the one certainty that hangs like a sword over these games is the perception that the government simply does not trust it's own people.

That manifests itself in broken promises. Press freedom was curtailed when sites on the Internet deemed sensitive were blocked from journalists. Citizens speaking to foreign visitors are under observation and being filmed by security people - and the purpose of that surveillance is unknown.

The Chinese government is making frantic efforts to loosen up. No doubt citizens will be dragooned to fill those empty seats and we have the expectation of a closing ceremony bonanza to come.

But somehow these Olympics will be remembered for the promise that didn't eventuate - and for many Bejing will be remembered as a place to avoid because - despite a huge effort to close factories and reduce motor traffic - this city has foul air and perpetual smog.

It held an Olympics that " almost " achieved it's objective.