Scouring the diary for an innocuous Olympic event free of righteous causes, anodyne slogans and grave crimes committed against the oppressed and the oppressor has been no easy task amid the political cyclone tearing its way through China and the Olympic family.
But innocence did return, albeit briefly, to the upcoming 2008 Beijing Games this week in far-flung Yunnan province.
At least that was how it is appeared when more than 500 schoolchildren were indulged by a former Chinese Olympian.
Eleven days ago, an event involving rich sponsors dovetailing with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make a profit from the masses would have induced a sneer from those who believe such partnerships are a symbol of greed and exploitation that surrounds the Games.
But with all eyes on Beijing and Lhasa, the way was paved for the Olympic spirit to celebrate a small victory without it being tainted by crusading activists and imperious governments.
This week, on a sports field perched in a mountain valley an hour outside of the Yunnan provincial capital Kunming, former Olympic gold medallist diver Gao Min, women's field hockey assistant coach Yang Hongbing and players Zhang Yan and Sun Sinan, entertained, encouraged and inspired the children and staff from the Yunnan Aluminum Co (YACo).