no nba games to watch can be quite upsetting, but the "dictator statement", auch!. i can imagine the odds sometimes you can get in a country as a foreigner, like resident permit regulations, or some civil controls. some sentiments are shared with the locals, some are especially for foreigners. but honestly speaking, for any expatriates, who hasn't had these kinda discomforts you could never expect back home? i heard not long ago, for europeans, vacations to australia also requrie the proof of roundtrip tickets and even bankstatements (correct me if i'm wrong). about the migrant workers, there are some pracalities in this case, for during olympics all the construction sites will cease, for which causes too much dust and absolutely is not suitable to the game sphere. so if there is no work going on, keeping a large mobiling worker community is less attracive, also for the safety concern. i don't know about the hotels/restaurants where many migrant workers also work, but i guess they might stay, cuz their days are gonna get very busy with the thousands more of visitors. speaking of migrant worker issues, it can be a long debate around the globe, also in america, in europe. i don't think there is a quick resolution from any country. what is different in china is there is no racism involved. i guess for many of them, going to the city is a very first, not the last, step. many of them have upgraded into middle class, settling down in the city and looking forward to more. it only depends on which "half" of the half-full glass we choose to look at.

"the last great dictatorship on earth." - you are somewhat off the mark with this statement. Authoritarian, yes, totalitarian, maybe, but dictatorship, no. - just take a look at a dictionary. Call me naive if you want - I lived and worked in the PRC for over 3 years - but it is not the most malign [or most benign] place on earth - but definitely one of the most maligned.

All Olympic marathon runners need to be put on a strict diet of lotus root and shark fin soup during the duration of the Beijing Summer Games ... or risk sudden collapse of the lungs.
I wonder if the Chinese will have the competitive advantage in this environment?