In the first week of the Rio Olympics we have already seen the "good, the bad and the ugly" of the world's greatest sporting carnival.
For Thailand, the "good" was the two gold medals, silver and bronze won by our weightlifters. For the neutral observer it was most likely the astonishing continuance of Michael Phelps' domination in the pool in his fifth Olympics.
You can add to the good list the selfie taken by gymnasts from South and North Korea, praised around the world as not only an act of good sportsmanship, but proof the Olympic spirit can bring rivals together in unity and friendship. The inclusiveness of the Games was also no better reflected than in the participation of 10 refugee competitors competing under the flag of the International Olympic Committee.
But the "bad" and the "ugly" are also in strong competition for the gold medal for lasting impressions of Rio.
For ugly images none may be more enduring than the two bright, green pools at the aquatic centre blamed variously on high alkalinity, a toxic bloom and poor chemical treatment of the water.
World swimming's governing body, Fina, chose the last, and laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Games' organisers who have also been criticised for poorly run events and delays getting into venues.
The swimming pool is also at the heart of the convergence of the "bad and the ugly" in the controversy over alleged drug cheats -- notably from Russia and China -- being cleared to compete.
The doping controversy overshadowed the build-up to the Olympics with more than 100 Russian athletes, including the entire track and field and weightlifting teams, being banned after independent reports for the World Anti-Doping Agency found widespread state-sponsored cheating.
Russian officials complained that they were being singled out for "political reasons" with swimming chief Vladimir Salnikov comparing it to a "Cold War" atmosphere.
But it was scrawny, bespectacled Australian swimmer Mack Horton who started the "anti-drug cheats" movement when he called out defending Chinese champion Sun Yang after beating him in the 400m freestyle. "I just have a problem with him testing positive and still competing," said Horton commenting on a three-month ban Sun served in 2014 for using a banned substance.
Sun is a national hero in his homeland and Horton was deluged with a hurricane of insults from Chinese social-media users and newspapers. But Horton refused to apologise to Sun, who felt a sense of justification when he later took gold in the 200m freestyle.
French swimmer Camille Lacourt also suffered the wrath of China when he said: "They should make up their federation of dopers and have fun among themselves. It disgusts me to see people who've cheated standing on podiums. Sun Yang, in the 200 free, he pees purple."
The IOC and Fina had a swimmers' revolt on their hands when American Lilly King, who won the 100m breaststroke, took aim at her Russian rival Yulia Efimov.
"Do I think people who have been caught doping should be on the team? They shouldn't," said King, who also took aim at her US teammates Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay for being drug cheats. "It is just something that needs to be set in stone."
The "clean athletes" revolution has had resonance with the swimming crowds who have booed Russian competitors on the starting blocks and seen some competitors, such as Efimov and Sun, burst into tears through disappointment, shame or anger. Will Gatlin and Gay be jeered when they take to the track this week?
It's been both "ugly and bad", and Fina has to shoulder the responsibility by taking a leading role on an issue the swimmers clearly believe it has not. If there are no grey areas when it comes to bans for proven drug cheats, then there is no reason for competitors to be angry with their rivals.
It's understandable that Efimov feels she is being scapegoated, but it's also understandable that Horton, King and others are frustrated they are competing against swimmers they insist have an unfair advantage.
IOC president Thomas Bach responded by backing lifetime suspensions from the Games for serious drug cheats, but that was soon overtaken by official double-talk when IOC spokesman Mark Adams said it would "pose legal difficulties".
The Rio Games could prove a watershed for the future of the Olympics much like football's governing world body, Fifa, has been forced to get its act together over corruption in its own house.
A clean games, and not only in swimming but all sports, is now demanded, not just from the competitors but also from a weary public.