It is now just 50 days to go until the Beijing Olympics. I went to Tiananmen Square but there was very little happening. A huge crowd watched the flag lowering ceremony, but there wasn’t much else happening.

There is a huge anticipation for the Olympics, but it would be hard to describe that there is a feeling of much excitement. I have a feeling that once it is all over, many Chinese will wonder what all the fuss was about. Organizers are making the event more of a straight sporting competition than a reason to party and celebrate. When the torch relay passed through Xinjiang this week, residents were asked to stay at home to watch the event, citing security concerns.

I think these kinds of reactions are now setting the tone for how the Olympics will be played out.