Volunteers stand in a line to welcome the reporters at the Olympic Media Village in Beijing, July 25, 2008. [Xinhua]

The country faced criticism for not allowing any foreign media to enter Tibet immediately after the Lhasa violence on March 14, although reporters already there were allowed to continue to report until their permits ran out. Chinese news stories were publicized straight after the incident happened in the Tibetan city, including TV footage about violent attacks on the street. This surprised Chinese audiences who have become used to a diet of positive news.

As the International Olympic Committee said in its report when choosing Beijing to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Games would leave a unique legacy to China and to sport. There are reasons to believe that part of the legacy will be a country opening wider to the world.