After seven years of hardwork, Beijing finally got its moment in the spotlight on August 08, 2008. But the general mood in the Chinese capital was a subdued, rather than celebratory, one. Some tourists asked why there weren't signs of joyous partying or spontaneous celebration in the city. This was not surprising, given the government's anxiety over terror attacks and disruptions by rights activists. The massive security blanket thrown up around Beijing and the sudden changes to the visa policy prompted some to call the 2008 Games the "Killjoy Olympics".