But for the organisers the lead-up to the celebrations was overshadowed by a troubling incident in the heart of Beijing, not far from where the ceremonies would be staged: a security lapse on the evening of June 26th that was both unusual and embarrassing.

Nike cut its sales outlook after pressure on consumers ramped up across the globe in recent months. The sneaker and apparel company said strong trends in March, especially in North America, quickly fell off by mid-April,