China and the Olympics

[trashtalkr]

Olympic Opening Ceremony Enhanced with Fake Fireworks

Not all was what it seemed during the spectacular opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Beijing organizers confirmed Tuesday that some of the fireworks display featured prerecorded footage.

Fireworks that burst into the shape of 29 gigantic footprints were shown trudging above the Beijing skyline to the National Stadium near the start of the ceremony.

Though the footprint-shaped fireworks were real, some of the footage shown to television viewers around the world and on giant screens inside the "Bird's Nest" stadium featured a computer-generated three-dimensional image.

"It was confirmed that previously recorded footage was provided to the broadcasters for convenience and theatrical effects -- as in many other big events," Beijing organizing committee spokesman Wang Wei said. "On the day of the ceremony there were actual footprints of fireworks from the south to the north of the city.

Source: CNN

[trashtalkr]

Olympic Girl Deemed Not Cute Enough for TV

A little girl and her song captivated millions of viewers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. But what they saw was not what they heard.

Games organizers confirm that Lin Miaoke, who performed "Ode to the Motherland" as China's flag was paraded Friday into Beijing's National Stadium, was not singing at all.

Lin was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was heard but not seen, apparently because she was deemed not cute enough.

"The reason was for the national interest," said Chen Qigang, the ceremony's musical director, in a state radio interview. "The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. ... Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects."

Source: CNN

[trashtalkr]

Thank you China for ruining the Opening Ceremonies with fake fireworks and lip syncing. It shows us what a great country you are after all

[happywonton]

The fireworks wasn't that big of a deal but the little girl? Man, she must have felt like a tool.

[AYHJA]

LMAO...

So....How about those swimmers..!

[trashtalkr]

Holy shit A! Michael Phelps is phenomenal! That kid has so much talent - 5 Golds and 5 World Records. Damn...

[Skinny Bastard]

I can't believe that in your discussion of all things fake in China, you did not mention their gymnastic team. I know from experience that many asians appear quite youthful and their ages can be a surprise... but their is no way in God's green earth that all of those girls are the required 16 years of age. The chinese govt. aided the lie by issuing them passports with the fake birthdates as a passport is the only required documentation.
Say it with me - C H E A T E R S ! ! ! !
...and now the cheaters go home with the gold.... shame on them.

[darklighter1]

Yeah my girl (she's Chinese) was getting mad at me for pointing this out too. I know they can look younger but come on! I think a few of them were no older than 10 years old. But whatever...

[trashtalkr]

I know! Some of those girls still had their baby teeth. No 16 yr old still has baby teeth

[Skinny Bastard]

but I will say maybe it is possible....
...I was recently hittin' it with a 29 year old South Korean that looked barely legal..... so, I guess maybe we could give them the benefit of the doubt.

I have to agree with one of the US comentators that pointed out the stupidity of the "minimum age" rule as a form of age discrimination. If the Olympic competitions are where the world's best compete, should age be a restriction? If a 12 or 14 year old is the best, should they not be allowed to compete while at the peak of their game/sport?