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The preparation and execution of these Games has taken a herculean effort. The entire country mobilized to create an unprecedented Olympic event. Some reporters continue to try to find issues and problems - not unusual - bad news sells - but the transformation of the country and city over the past five years should not be ignored. Sure, the cab drivers still don’t speak much English – but find a cab driver in NYC who speaks Mandarin fluently. The country is rightly very proud of their accomplishments and their athletes. People have traveled from far away provinces to get a glimpse of this event. The legacy of these Games will continue, long after they are gone – with some of the most original architecture, structural change and focus on the environment, and… the transformation will continue. And the Games themselves have been extraordinary – once you get over the vast and creative structure of the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, you witness some amazing athletes in action. Last week Phelps – this week the Bolt. Interactive Medal Count here. Posted by Reid at August 21, 2008 04:33 AM