Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

THE GAMES of the 29th Olympiad all but ended in Beijing yesterday and after a glittering and unforgettable opening ceremony, after some brilliant performances, it could be rated, probably, as the best, the greatest of the greatest show on earth.

For Jamaica, however, for little Jamaica that went to Beijing, lined up with the big guns of the world - including the mighty US of A, and flexed its muscles, it was undoubtedly, the best, most glorious Olympic Games of them all.

Going into the showpiece of the world's best athletes with an overall seven gold medals from 15 previous Games, Jamaica, the 'Rock', came away with six gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals for, by far, their best and most dazzling performance ever.

Mishap

And but for a little mishap, but for a problem with the baton in the women's 4x100 metres relay, it could have been, as expected, a stunning seven gold medals.

The team of Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart - one, two and two in the women's 100 metres, and Veronica Campbell-Brown - repeat gold medallist in the 200, was expected not only to win the women's 4x100, but to do so in style - in world record time.

America, big bad America, was expected to be Jamaica's main challenge in the sprint events - the 100 and 200, men and women, and both relays.

That, however, was not to be.

In two of the most devastating runs in the history of the Games, Usain Bolt, arguably the greatest sprinter of all time, won the men's 100 and 200 not only in world record times but also by the proverbial city block.

Historic performance

In another historic performance, Fraser, Simpson and Stewart were the first three home when they finished first, second and second in the women's 100. In the women's 200 metres, Campbell-Brown was unchallenged with Stewart coming home in third position; and after the unfortunate incident in the women's sprint relay, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Bolt and Asafa Powell won the men's event by a mile - by almost a full second.

Gold medal number six came courtesy of Melaine Walker's wonderful run in the 400m hurdles, the other silver medal was provided by Shericka Williams in the women's 400, the other bronze medal came from the women's 4x400 relay and, apart from the mishap in the women's 4x100 relay, when it is remembered that a few just missed out on medals, including Danny McFarlane who came fourth in the men's 400 hurdles and Chelsea Hammond who also came fourth in the women's long jump, the total, the record haul of 11 medals, could have been more.

Made it to 16 finals

On top of all that, Jamaica, through Bolt and Bolt and company, set three world records, all the sprint events were won comfortably and by huge gaps, and without even counting Germaine Mason who was born and bred in Jamaica, and who won the silver in the men's high jump for Britain, Jamaica made it to 16 finals and, in a number of cases, not only had one but two or three people in them.

With Powell failing to win an individual medal in the 100m and with the women losing the baton, there were some disappointments for Jamaica in Beijing. Just as there was for China when defending champion Liu Xiang was forced to pull out of the men's 110 hurdles due to an injury and for the US when favourite Lola Jones hit the hurdle and failed to win a medal in the women's 110 event and when their teams dropped the baton in both sprint relays.

Thanks to Bolt, Fraser, Campbell-Brown and Walker, however, thanks to Simpson, Stewart and Shericka Williams, thanks to Carter, Frater and Powell, thanks to Shereefa Lloyd, Rosemarie Whyte and to Novelene Williams, and thanks to all the country's ambassadors.

Despite the memories of Michael Phelps in the pool, Dayron Robles sailing over the hurdles, Sanya Richards on the final leg of the women's 4x400 relay, LaShawn Merritt's finish in the men's 400 and Yelena Isinbayeva flying over the bar in the women's pole vault, Beijing 2008 will be remembered not only as Bolt's happy hunting ground, but also, and most important, as Jamaica's Olympic Games.

Those around the world who did not know Jamaica's anthem or Jamaica's flag surely know them now, and especially so the flag which, on two occasions appeared two times in one victory ceremony, and which, on one of those occasions, should have appeared three times.