The final medals tally at the last Olympic Games in Beijing does seem to offer not just a mild symbolism as arrow to more contemporary realities. Doesn’t it? After all, the Olympic games have over the years been a ground for strong statements of lasting impact in other areas of endeavour other than sports - Hitler’s refusal to honour African American sprinter Jesse Owens in the Berlin Olympics of 1936 a case in point. Or, conversely, Jesse Owens’ outstanding performance against the odds of racial condescension of Hitler’s Germany and even his own America.

So, what does this final medals tally offer in my view? Perhaps not more than an already flogged issue of the triumph of the Chinese in areas not before seen as their turf of strength. Well, let us say that I do not talk of the recently concluded games now. A general consensus already puts a great possibility to the reality that China has finally become an active participant in the world scene. From a realm of failed diplomacy of fruitless rhetoric and passive aggression to all things West, the country of a billion people seem to have come of age, and now making inroads into the economics of third world countries, without strings, in a way that makes impotent the age-long upper hand of imperialist West.

And about America’s (especially) declining fortunes in previous areas of strength, can we point to a decline that naturally visits every civilization at the zenith of its fortunes? Or else scream foul that it is the Jamaican Usain Bolt who broke American Michael Johnson’s records, or that the United states won only one (bronze) medal in the Boxing events?

The most likely response should be that it is not the countries that compete in championships, but the people. After all, even American Ben Johnson was Jamaican born, Carl Lewis is Black, and the American William sisters are descendants of African immigrants. And only then would the genius and hard work of greats like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Kistry Coventry be recognized.

The people of China have spoken. With 51 gold medals in Beijing (more than their total medals tally in Atlanta (50)) they have stamped authority in events like diving, gymnastics, table tennis among others.

An underestimated dragon may have finally broken out of its shell.