All in all, the event went off without a hitch (with the exception perhaps of a lip-synching six-year-old and a few super-imposed fireworks).

For China, hosting the Games was always going to be a challenge.

This is a country which has always looked upon the rest of the world with an eye of suspicion, particularly the western world.

China is led by a government used to getting its own way and unused to be questioned by outsiders.

Opening itself up to the world as it did over the past 16 days was a risk.

We were not surprised to see the warmth of the Chinese people, their smiling faces and welcoming natures.

This is a beautiful country with beautiful people.

We also saw glimpses that, despite promises made, China was still prepared to be heavy-handed in its efforts to control the messages that went out.

Would-be protesters were required to apply for permission to demonstrate. Protest areas were established well away from the Olympic precinct. Chinese citizens were not granted permission to protest. In one well-publicised case,

two 77-year-old women were sentenced to home detention with labour to keep them from the Olympic precinct. Journalists who attempted to film such distractions were manhandled by security.

China's record on human rights remains a concern to many nations, Australia included.

Hosting one Olympic Games will not change that.

However, it is to be hoped the experience will help to open up the dialogue between Chinese authorities and the rest of the world.