China has managed to pull off a spectacular Olympics.
Right up to the opening ceremony of the Games, there were serious doubts as to whether China would be able to keep the events peaceful and generally successful. The torch relay that spanned the world 's the longest in Olympic history 's was marred with protests over China's treatment of Tibet. Many thought similar protests would cast a shadow over the Games themselves.
But through tight security and intensive screening processes, there were no major protests and China was saved from a potentially crippling embarrassment over Tibet.
China also struggled with worries over pollution and air quality. Many athletes 's those who focused on aerobic sports requiring a strong cardiovascular system 's considered refusing to compete in the Games because the poor air quality would hamper their efforts.
A series of hard line anti-pollution measures managed to clear up the air to relatively safe standards by the start of the Games, and the issue was largely forgotten by the time the starting guns cracked.
And now many people, particularly those in the Baltics, are already wondering if Russia will be able to put on a similar performance in the Winter Games in five and a half years.
The Russian city of Sochi is due to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. This in the first time that the Olympic Games has been held in Russia since the break up of the Soviet Union and is a chance for the Russians to showcase what they have accomplished since. It is unlikely that the international community, especially in the Baltics, will be able to forgive Russia for its actions in Georgia by the time the Games begin. The Georgian issue stands to become an even bigger deal for Russia than Tibet was for China in the recently finished Games.
There even have been calls to boycott the Eurovision song contest due to be held in Russia next year.
The Baltic nations have shown that they can be bold and that they can be number one. Two gold medals for the region don't seem a lot but it you take into account the region's population it is quite an achievement.
Gerd Kanter Estonia's Olympic champion discus thrower was confident that he was going to win against all the odds and it is that same confidence that may inspire the Baltics not just to boycott the Games but to encourage its allies in NATO and the EU to do likewise.
There are signs this is already happening. In the U.S., two politicians, Representative Allyson Schwartz, Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Bill Shuster, Republican from Pennsylvania have introduced a resolution to remove the 2014 Olympics from Sochi. Russia has already spent 2 billion euro on the project so they are going to be more that a little annoyed if nobody shows up.
