Verbs for the Academy Awards and the Olympic Games

I was gonna ask what verb should be used for "the Olympic Games" (i.e. the Olympic Games have just opened/begun or has just opened/begun), but I checked out a related thread and a veteran member said "the games are being held in Beijing" probably to imply that "the Olympic Games" should take a plural verb. I agree that "the games" (with the small letter 'g') is plural. But this is what i think. If you capitalize 'G' i.e. the Olympic Games, it should be treated as a proper noun just like the World Cup. Hence, a singular verb should be used.

Additionally, I don't think we say The 19th Olympic Games are over. or The 81st Academy Awards have just been concluded.

Just my two cents.