China by winning the gold medal count with a total of 51 versus 36 for the USA has become a true sports powerhouse. The Chinese count has gone up each successive Olympics since their entry in 1984, but the latest advance is a quantum leap forward with China becoming only the third nation, after the US and the USSR, to lead in gold medals since Germany did so in 1936. The US media has trumpeted the total medal count which placed the US ahead of China 110 to 100, but when points are assigned to each category (gold=3, silver=2, bronze=1) China edged out the US 223 to 220. This was due to the fact that more than 1/2 of the Chinese medals were gold, whereas only 1/3 of the American were. It can also truly be said that in Chinese sports "women hold up half the sky." More than half their gold medals (27) and total medals (57) were won by women.
In all other respects these Olympics were triumphant. Scandals and tragedies which have marred previous Olympics were held to a minimum. The much vaunted pollution problems never materialized, the weather held up and the venues were spectacular. The Chinese people proved to be gracious hosts. Now China can turn back to addressing its many developmental problems. If they're as successful in their other endeavors as they have been in this one, China can look forward to a bright future.
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