The 2012 Olympic Logo

The Chinese have just written history by successfully hosting the world’s most talked about Olympics. They confirm that while the big minorities have the might, the small majority could also rule.

China had  a  gigantic task to ensure athletes, spectators, Olympic officials, visitors and its citizens were safe. Safety also meant no one in China should suffer directly or indirectly from international terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, the domestic version fighting to end Chinese rule in far western Xingjian Province, Tibetan separatists, the Falun Gong spiritual movement and ordinary people with grievances against the government, society or the Olympics.

As expected, threats begun coming in from the day China received the right to host the event. A sequence followed with a Chinese passenger jet heading for Beijing being diverted to the city of Lanzhou. Now that the event is over, we can conclude that the Chinese have raised the Olympic bar and London will have to work a little bit harder than they did when they hosted the games in 1908 and 1948.

London as a terrorist’s target was underscored hours after Britain (now awarded host to the 2012 Games) was bombed on the July 7 2005. I hope they will not make the East London neighborhood of Stratford an oppressive security-tight region but a friendly one that promises safety without combat like Beijing has.

Incorporating experiences from the previous Olympic Games, Beijing's security agencies had worked out a guideline covering more than 50 items, including security in the Olympic venues, anti-terrorism, and intelligence information. Over 400 police officers in charge of large-scale activities were sent to Athens and Sydney to learn from these nations' experiences in hosting the previous Olympics with an aim of offering world-class security services for the Olympics.

As a basic security step, China incorporated security facilities into the construction of all the Olympic venues, so that when the venues were completed, the facilities could operate as well. Hidden cameras and recorders with ability to relay live information were installed in each of the over 300,000 taxis serving major cities in China. All spoken languages in the world were represented in the security intelligence that left no stone unturned.

If you thought the security war was won single handedly by the Chinese authorities, you will be surprised that ordinary people lead the fight against terrorism, according to security experts. "The most important part of safety is prevention, and the main way to prevent terrorism is to defend against terrorists using people, facilities and technology," said anti-terrorism expert Wang Guanghai. Wang is one of the leading members of the research group, which produced the "Anti-terrorism Strategies for the Beijing Olympic Games".

So tight were security measures that the organizers had to lift some security arrangements after complaints from sponsors that they were not receiving as much traffic in their pavilions within the Olympic park.

If Boris Johnson’s – the London mayor who received the Olympic flag on Sunday – comment “I was dazzled and blown away” by the Beijing Games is anything to by, then Mr. Johnson and others who will preside over the 2012 Olympic preparations face challenges that the Chinese had less trouble with: Security and cash flow.

The baton has been passed and the race is still on. China has shown us the power in Asia; we would like to see some more from Europe.