Just so we're clear

In case any question remains about whether the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is using the Beijing Olympics for political gain, here's the answer, from a Xinhua interview last month with BOCOG President and CPC official Liu Qi:

The success of the Beijing Olympics is attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC and the Chinese Government and the concerted efforts of the Chinese people. It testifies to the need for us to unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and make the most of its institutional advantage that allows us to concentrate resources on our major tasks.

China Fun Fact: At least 8 million people visited Beijing during the National Day Golden Week holiday from September 29 to October 5. The Bird's Nest and Water Cube received 493,000 visitors in one day, while the Forbidden City received about 100,000 visitors per day. To put those numbers in perspective, the Bird's Nest holds about 90,000 people.