The 29th Olympiad, by many counts, has been an incredible success.  We saw a Jamaican sprinter emerge as the "World´s Fastest Man," an American swimmer earn the title "Greatest Olympian Ever," and countless world records fall like dominoes.  Perhaps most impressively, we witnessed China´s bold announcement of its newfound presence on the world stage.

But along with the praise came a barrage of criticism.  The spotlight on China has led to complaints regarding digitally created fireworks, a lip-syncing singing performance, and questionable ethics of Chinese sports academies.  From a broader perspective, human rights abuse and press freedom have been cited numerous times.

Some of these arguments are indeed valid.  But are the Olympics -- a supposed celebration of world cultures, of competitive spirit, of human triumph -- the appropriate venue to vent these concerns?

Why is it that we hear more about the possibility of Chinese female gymnasts being underage than about a swimmer´s act of ultimate sportsmanship when she asked an official to delay a race so her competitor could fix a torn swimsuit?  Why do we seemingly spend more time arguing over the "correct" way to count medals and less time on the imagination-defying performances that won them?

It may be naive to think that sports can someday become truly independent of politics, but my hope is that the Beijing Olympics will be remembered for its glorious moments, not its controversies.