Olympics Recap

Not too much to say, but my honest follow-up policy requires me to check back on my
pre-Olympics thoughts.

I was right about American track and field coming up short, but not embarrassingly so due to a couple of successful team efforts (400m/hurdles/1600 relay). Rather than risking getting talked over too much, Obama waited until it was over, then moved quickly.

In terms of top Sports Nation, Australia had another great Olympics and pretty much crushed Spain in breadth of medals won (let alone per capita).

The USA and Yao met up in an early game and the USA won by 30 or so. The Chinese expected it, and accepted it graciously.

Table tennis was very interesting as the ethnic Chinese of the diaspora filled out the draw but didn't really get in the way of the Chinese medal assault there.

The most impressive single medal for the USA was in men's (team) volleyball. More than with China (except women's gymnastics), our key matchups in team competitions were with Brazil!

Beijing came off better than it had any right to expect; their new facilities are true 21st-century marvels. The government's hand was too close, but, except for the opening and closing, stayed out of the big show. The Olympics did end up showing modern Chinese civilization for what it is, and to some extent the Chinese people for who they are, and that is something quite special in the world. A little too anthill-like, though, for me in this lifetime, as were the opening/closing ceremonies.