* Beijing-hosted Olympics. Amid concerns over China’s awful human rights record and lockdown scenarios, there is this: Many countries have advised their athletes to leave their cellphones and laptops home lest they be compromised by the Chinese government.
* Hardly happenstance that China chose a (cross-country skier) Uyghur as one of two Chinese athletes to deliver the Olympic flame in Beijing. China recognizes public relations, if not human rights.
* Olympic optics: Pandemic protocols in Beijing have resulted in no more than 30 percent of site capacity seating for events. Bottom line: “Clap, don’t cheer.”
* The Beijing Games are the first winter Olympics to rely totally on artificial snow.