Call me a spoilsport if you will, but the Olympics has become a monster, undermining values for which it is supposed to stand. Thus, Hong Kong's Olympic representative, Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, is a son of a famous father, rather than someone known for active participation in sports - let alone at a high level. Thus, it is hinted by the government that the chief executive, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen - another non-sporting dignitary - may take part in the torch relay for these 'non-political' Games.
Thus, large sums are spent on hosting equestrian events, despite the almost non-existent local participation in the sport. To enable Mr Tsang, Mr Fok and other dignitaries to preen themselves as Olympic hosts, Hong Kong's real athletes have their training disrupted, and money that could have gone into improving sporting facilities in schools, or for the general public, funds a brief event in which less than 10 per cent of Olympic teams compete.
Thus, a huge fuss is made of the Olympic torch relay, quietly forgetting that this was not an ancient Greek institution; it was invented for Hitler's Berlin Games of 1936, the apogee of racist nationalism thinly disguised as sport.
The most blatant politicisation was the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. That was followed by a Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. But Beijing cannot claim innocence, given its use of the Games to boost China's image abroad and its image at home. It should not be surprised that critics should seek to draw attention to grievances. That is not to say that unruly demonstrations about Tibet , Darfur or other issues will do any good. More likely, they will stir nationalist sentiment in China and lead to even harsher measures against Tibetan and other dissidents. But until politicians everywhere stop trying to be associated with the Olympics, they will attract dissenters.
The bigger the Olympics becomes, the more public money must go into it and, thus, each Games requires top-level political support. In addition to bribery of delegates, political lobbying plays an important role in the awarding of the Games - as Tony Blair showed on London's behalf.
The costs of providing for so many events and so many athletes have become prohibitive for most of the world. The proliferation of medals for often obscure sports, practised by tiny numbers of people, intensifies the nationalist competition for position in the medals table. At each Olympics, the number of events expands.
In principle, it should not be difficult to trim the Games to a more manageable and affordable size, with minimal impact on global public interest. We should: