The Opening Ceremony, held on August 8 - the number eight is considered lucky in China - was reportedly viewed by a staggering 1 billion people - 842 million of them in China, where it was estimated that almost 70 percent of the population tuned in.

Chinese nationalism is rampant, the poison by which the so-called Communist regime sustains its right to govern today. Talk to any semi-educated Han and you will hear all about China’s phenomenal 5000 years of culture; dig into that talk and you will understand how the past 100 years of Chinese turbulence and misery are the fault of the West.

Edward Romero is being sought by Chinese authorities for painting two upscale Beijing hotel rooms with anti-oppression slogans like, “Speak out for those who have no voice,” and “Beijing 2008 Our world Our nightmare.”

For four months world leaders have been reading about China’s draconian security measures and myriad human rights problems. Some threatened to boycott, while others toyed with the idea of quietly not turning up. But in the end more leaders were in Beijing last night than in the three previous Olympic Games combined.

While a promise was made to foreign journalists, China’s media had only the cold assurance, based on bitter experience, that they would face during the Olympics the same tightening of controls that precede any event of profound circumstance in China.

Today, directors, writers and painters who seek to expose the darker side of authoritarian rule not only enrage the censors, but also often find themselves shut out of the lucrative market for Chinese art, books and film. Many of those who find less political outlets for their talent, on the other hand, can get rich.

In the seven years since Beijing was awarded the Olympic Games, the Communist Party has adapted and navigated its way forward, loosening its grip on elements of society even as it crushes or co-opts threats to its hold on political power.

In June, I sat down for a private meeting with the Dalai Lama, and we talked at length about what kind of a deal he and China might be willing to accept. He was far more flexible and pragmatic about a resolution of the Tibet question than public statements had led me to believe.

The official website en.beijing2008.cn had its main headlines in blue this morning, but smaller headings were all in orange, as were some other elements of the design - a reference to a campaign by Danish human rights activist and artist Jens Galschiot.

In one of the most graphic ads, a “dissident” - with his arms handcuffed behind him - is depicted having his head dunked in a swimming pool by two “policemen”. The poster carries the caption: “After the Olympic Games, the fight for human rights must go on.”