There is now exactly one year to go until the Beijing 2008 Olympics and organisers are putting the finishing touches to the venues for what promises to be a truly spectacular event.
However, human rights groups have used the occasion to criticise China's human rights record, focusing on Tibet, media freedom, detention without trial and forced relocation.
The one-year countdown starts today, but the chorus of disapproval from rights activists shows the significant public relations challenge facing the Beijing organisers in the coming 12 months.
At a section of the Great Wall near the Chinese capital, six Tibet independence activists from Britain, the US and Canada were detained after abseiling from the top of the wall with a 42m banner reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 2008" in English and Chinese.
"The Chinese government is exploiting the Olympics to gain acceptance as a world leader. By protesting at the Great Wall, the most recognisable symbol of Chinese nationhood, we're sending a clear message that China's dream of international leadership cannot be realised as long as it continues its brutal occupation of Tibet," said Tenzin Dorjee, deputy director of Students for a Free Tibet.
Beijing annexed Tibet in 1950 and says the Himalayan enclave is its sovereign territory. Last week, Tibetans in exile formed the National Olympic Committee of Tibet and were seeking permission to take part in the 2008 games.
Activists have also attacked how people are being forced out of their homes in traditional hutong laneways to make way for Olympic developments.
Amnesty International issued a report condemning a growing crackdown on Chinese human rights activists and journalists, as well as the continued use of "laojiao" or "re-education through labour" and other forms of detention without trial.
"The image of the Olympics continues to be tarnished by ongoing reports of the 'house arrest', torture or unfair trial of Chinese activists and the extension of systems for detention without trial in Beijing as part of the city's 'clean-up' ahead of August 2008," Amnesty said.
Then there is Darfur. Beijing buys much of Sudan's oil and sells it arms, and activists are using the Olympics to get China to put pressure on Khartoum over the fighting in Darfur.
Actress Mia Farrow has said the director Steven Spielberg, who is co-directing the ceremonies with top Chinese director Zhang Yimou, risks earning comparisons with Nazi film-maker Leni Riefenstahl.
International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge repeated his mantra that the games would be a "significant force for good", but could hardly be expected to resolve all the issues facing the country.
"We believe the games are going to move ahead the agenda of social and human rights as far as possible. The games are going to be a force for good but the games are not a panacea," Rogge said. He said it was "absolutely legitimate" for non-governmental organisations and human rights groups to bring attention to their causes both now and when the games are on.
Wearing T-shirts showing the Olympic rings turned into handcuffs, four activists from the media freedom group Reporters Without Borders held an unauthorised news conference outside the Beijing organisers headquarters. Foreign journalists were detained after the conference by police.
A senior member of the Beijing organising committee, Jiang Xiaoyu, said he was unworried by the criticisms. "We have already heard many different voices from many different sides, and we are mentally prepared for these voices to get louder and even reach a crescendo," he said.
