What a great Games Beijing staged

From the first moment of the awesome opening to the last echoes of the happy closing ceremony, the world sat back in admiration.

The home country dominated most events and - it was unkindly said, the Brits excelled at sports you could sit down to play. But anyone who saw the bike-riders and their rowers would know there's nothing relaxing about those sports.

Among the usual suspects, Russia and the US excelled as well as Australia, with its team of native-born and migrant competitors. Many overseas people wonder how Australia manages to 'punch so far above its weight'. Well, Aussies love to get out and have fun. They play hard and they work diligently, as well. There's a streak of competitiveness that runs through many things we do. We say ' we're not playing for sheep stations' ... but we are in it to win it, however lackadaisical we might seem to others.

Congratulations to Beijing and to each and every one of the competing nations. Now, bring on 2012 and London!