Now that the world's focus has faded from China, the country will revert to shutting out the media, right? Possibly not.

Jiang Yu, a spokeswoman for the
Foreign Ministry, said that her country would consider keeping in place rules that allow foreign journalists increased access to the country. "I think when the time comes [the laws expire on October 17], we will tell everyone what the arrangement will be," she explained. "But I want to reiterate to everyone that the spirit of opening up will continue."

The fact that the increased freedom would remain after the Olympics has been a possibility for some time. But just how long, you ask?

In December '07, ministry spokesman Qing Gan said "China's opening-up will be continuously pressing ahead. The door has been opened already. It will never be closed again."

Given that China viewed the Beijing Games as something of a coming out party, it will be interesting to see how this story plays itself out. Perhaps soon the Beijing Deadspin Bureau can unmask itself.