Not quite what we thought
Okay, I've held off long enough.
What should we make of the two bits of the opening ceremony that weren't what we thought they were at the time? (The aerial shots of fireworks exploding across the city which turned out to be computer-generated, and then the revelation that the little girl singing a song was miming to another girl's voice).
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Firstly, the aerial shots. I didn't actually see them till I left the stadium during the opening ceremony to go and edit a TV piece.
My colleagues and I sifted through the official footage of the event and were pretty staggered by the aerial shots. We decided to start our piece with them (old TV rule - you always start your piece with the best pictures).
I thought the pictures were astonishing but genuine - for the simple fact that I'd seen plenty of helicopters in the air during the ceremony and during previous dress rehearsals.
But, looking back, one thing did puzzle me - the aerial shot showed lots of traffic. I couldn't work out why people would choose to drive during the single most important moment in China's modern history. But, I quickly put this out of my mind, used the aerial shots, and moved onto the rest of the piece.
Then, there's the case of the two girls - the one that we all saw, Lin Miaoke, and then the real singer, Yang Peiyi (a kind of Chinese Milli Vanilli moment).
One Chinese official suggests that it was in the national interest to choose the prettier girl to perform during the opening ceremony (albeit with someone else's voice). Again, I assumed that what we saw at the time was real
It is a surprise to find that one girl was borrowing another's voice, but it's not a huge shock to find that the organisers chose the more photogenic girl to perform.
Earlier this year the city of Shanghai went about recruiting a number of Olympic hostesses. It had strict criteria...
"Candidates should be between 18 and 24 and 1.68 and 1.78 metres in height. They should have a "ruddy and shiny complexion", "elastic skin" and "a plump but not fat body".
According to Shanghai's Xinmin Evening News, applicants would be judged on the ratio between the "width of the nose and the length of the face" and also the "width of the mouth and width between the pupils".
Then, there was the clincher: the candidates who had the best chance of getting picked should have a face in which "eye length is three-tenths of the face". (I'm not sure how this was measured).
Anyway, what do you make of the not-quite-what-we-thought-they-were opening ceremony moments?
I’m 
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For your information, the "footprint" fireworks were real. I mean, there were indeed footprint fireworks. It's just that what's shown on TV was not the real fireworks, as it was difficult to actually shoot the real firworks in real time from the air. So it was not entirely faking. The girl's singing was indeed miming. But I heard that in American superbowls etc, they do miming as well. Is that true?
Anyway, I was surprised that China disclosed these things voluntarily. What's the purpose?
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I am terribly disappointed by this. I was awed and excited when I saw the fireworks "steps". I thought it was grand. I feel as if I've been cheated. My emotions were determined by a "fake" experience, when what I saw was presented as "real".
As for the girl, again same sentiment. The voice was hauntingly beautiful. The real singer would have looked just as lovely as Lin Miaoke. In fact, we would have liked Yang Peiyi more, because she is "real". Poor girl. Can you imagine being told that you can't come out because you are ugly?
Promoting perceived beauty over ability and trust has nothing to do with national interest. (This applies to any individual and country. Just saying it for those hypersensitive nationalist bloggers.)
I think the Chinese Olympic organizers and government overseers tried too hard to be present the nation as "perfect".
It's such a pity. We would all have been supportive, astonished, and enjoyed the opening ceremony without the fakeness. And now... I'm just plain disappointed.
At least the Chinese music director told us the truth. I think that Yang Peiyi should be giving a spotlight at the closing ceremony.
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As far as I know, many Chinese netizens are quite upset about these. There are too many fake things for the past 12 months in China got exposed, fake Tiger photos (twice), fake journalistic photos of piegons (which won a prize for good journalism), etc. Distrust towards media is probably reaching its peak now.
I myself don't think the firework and lipsync matter that much though. Theatre is not about how genuine the thing is, it's about how good it looks. Also, showing the best image to the guests is somehow considered to be the right thing to do in Chinese culture. It means that you respect the guests. Not sure about the west though. Will you guys show how dirty your houses are when people come to visit?
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It's standard for countries to massively over-engineer and fail-safe big public events, often it's as simple as protecting their ($20bn) investment.
The fireworks and the lip-synching singer (and the dummy piano) don't really bother me as much as the number of empty seats we're seeing in the venues. even people who travelled all the way to china to see family members compete are not being let into venues. my mate is staying at a hotel that's virtually empty ("like the hotel in the Shining," he says,) there's a massive military and police presence on the streets, sections of the city are closed off, etc.
there does seem to be a sense that more effort is being put into making the games safe and efficient than making it fun. what are they thinking, stationing a tank directly outside the media center? scary.
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Don't forget, the firework footprints did go off for real (and according to the people who were there, quite spectacular they were too). Actually, where were you at the time if you weren't in the stadium and yet didn't see them?
It's a shame that Lin Miaoke didn't get to sing for real, or Yang get to perform in her place. But that's life. As you say, it was a Milli Vanilli moment. Most recording artists (if not all) these days use some type of vocal synthesizers in order to sound halfway decent. This was a 5 year old girl, if I was the organiser I'd be nervous that Lin would be nervous.
Let's look towards what London can do instead. In percentages, what's the comparison going to be? I reckon if London can perform to 50% of what China achieved, it would be successful.
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Actually, this bit of "news" tells us more about the western media covering the Beijing Games, that it does about the games themselves. It shows the disparaging intent of the media reporting, and the lack of fair and balanced views.
You guys just can't let China have a good run, can you. You have to find every little bit of spoil, and gleefully tell us all about it.
You think the '84 Games were better? Maybe you should wait till the 2012 Games. Then we will see about you.
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Well, all Bollywood movies work the same way. The beautiful people on the screen are not the ones actually doing the singing. So, what's the big deal?
Wish Hollywood had done the same for 'Mamma Mia'. That would have been a major improvement!
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It seems only journalists are really upset about this - they have had one put over them. Hollywood does it continuously, televison does it all the time, indeed all big events have some kind of visual or audio trickery and it would be naive to think otherwise.
What I am annoyed about is that some political fat cat decided that the young girl with the great voice was not pretty enough to be shown off as an exemplar of China's talent. Are we all really so consumed with looks that we cannot admire other talents for what they really are?
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This does not surprise me at all. What seems to matter most to Chinese authorities is image rather than substance. China recently enacted draconian restrictions on international adoption. Why? Not for anything related to the welfare of the children, but because they didn't like being the number one country from which children were being adopted. They thought it gave them a poor image. They carefully engineered their new requirements to put them in the middle of the list of adoption numbers. They would clearly rather let their children suffer than endure what they perceive as "national disgrace." The irony is that the truth always comes out, and they end up looking even worse for it. I am disgusted by the way they have treated their own people in preparation for these olympics, and I fault the worldwide media for playing along with the whole debacle for the sake of ratings.
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The fireworks shots were very clearly computer generated, i didn't think they were trying to hide the fact!
Embarassing to change the girl!
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So what? Do you think the girls in Las Vegas are just locals? Do you really believe that "standards" don't exist everywhere?
How many ugly people do you see on TV? Selling products?
China is selling China and doing a beautiful job of it.
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I guess the footsteps being pre-recorded doesn't matter. They're just visuals.
It's a bit of a shame that the real singer wasn't seen, she has a great voice.
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Who care's? The overall effect of the ceremony was spectacular. I couldn't give a monkey's whether any of it was 'faked'. Watching it on one of the big screens in Beijing with everyone going wild was fantastic and it doesn't change a thing knowing these new 'revelations'. Why is it necessary to be so negative about it....perhaps because we couldn't possibly put on such a good display ourselves.
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I am very disappointed at the two incidents.
The footprints, the idea was wonderful and original and there really were fireworks like those displayed that evening. It was unfortunate that it was difficult/dangerous to film the firework in perfect condition. Still, the real footage would be better.
While concerns for the helicopter pilots' safety were somewhat reasonable, there is NO reason why one little girl should be asked to fake her performance and taking credit that is not hers. I find it very troubling: what kind of example the official(s) in charge is (are) trying to establish?! In addition, I happen to think that the real singer (Yang) is very cute and more natural looking than the so-called more photogenic Lin (she reminds me of the young beauty pageant contestants) - based on my reading of some of the online comments at some Chinese website, I am definitely not alone.
I think, in connection with the strict requirements on applicants, that the organizers were too eager to impress and wanted everything "perfect" that they lost sight of what is more important. These are just further examples of the organizers shooting themselves in the feet. What were they thinking?!
This of course also reflects a bigger problem of the society - the obsession of beauty (I find it disturbing that the words like mei3 nv3 and shuai4 ge1 are used so often in news headlines). I still remember, when I was in school in China, we were constantly taught that inner beauty is much more important than appearances.
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Not a big deal. I watched the opening ceremony purely to enjoy the visuals, and in that I was not disappointed. Looks matter for that sort of event, end of story.
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Odd, but the heavy traffic did strike me as odd. Also it seemed a bit to fast for a city street and there were no breaks. Headlights seemed almost perfectly spaced. Yes, the little girl was cute, but the real singer did not sound that good. I mentioned to my mate how beautiful all the Chinese woman were and that they looked like painted dolls.
So China and their reputation for propaganda has not really changed at all. I am old enough to remember the ridiculous photo released of an 80 year old Mao's head floating in a river as if he was so God like he still swam in the turbulent water.
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It's too bad that footage of the fireworks was faked, but much worse that the child, whose voice was used, experienced rejection in spite of her gifted voice. Though some may chalk this up to Hollywood standards for appearance's sake, I view the incident as unjust and an unnecessary hurt to the young singer.
She is an attractive girl with a sweet face, who was made to feel less than what she is. Surely she would have been endearing just as she is. She deserved to be the star.
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Come on . Don't be that slashing.
Has London been put in a dilemma when it comes to Olymplc in 2012?
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The director of the ceremony Zhang Yi Mo is a movie director. What he wants to achieve is the best audiovisual effects. If the combination of the most attractive image and the most attractive voice can be only achieved by using two actors then I can not see why he could not use two actors instead of one.
In Chinese filming industry using dubbed voice is a very common practice. The famous movie star Liu Xiao Qing used dubbed voice throughout her acting carrer because her own voice was simply bad.
Again the China bashers links such simple thing with the Chinese government and imply that the Chinese government cheats.
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fantastic before
now even more brilliant
opening ceremony = theatre, and a fantastic job brilliantly done
london, 2012, you have command now, what are you going to do?
don't tell us, show us.
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Technically, it makes sense, but morally, it doesn't. Also, they probably ruined both girls' careers and lives, because people will think that anything the first girl did is fake, and the second girl will probably be seen as, well, less than attractive, given that a member of China's government said that in the first place. Oh, and did I mention the unfairness?
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I think there is a bit of a breakdown in communication here. I live in Chicago, and watched NBC's coverage of the Olympics. When the fireworks were making their way towards the birds nest the commentator indicated there and then that the fireworks were computer generated. Moreover, anyone watching in HD on a large screen TV could clearly see that they were computer generated.
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1) footprint fireworks: the fireworks are real, just technologically impossible to catch it live on tv. it's ok to have a pre-recorded one for audience who are not lucky enough to be in Beijing.
2) two girls "singing": many Chinese want to be part of the Beijing Olympics; instead of fulfilling the dream of just one girl, now we have two girls who get to participate in this historic event. Not a bad thing. Besides, Chinese people do emphasize collective efforts.
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Not quite the real journalism
1. James forget to mention that the Chinese music director for OC himself disclosed the fact that the girl we saw is not the girl we heard. This is justice done for the girl we did not see;
2. James confused _prerecorded _ fireworks with _computer generated_ fireworks.
Go blame Zhang Yimou, the film director who is so used to the idea of using an image or a voice that interest the west better. I can tell you that he applied the same method to fool the west and to win favour from the west. James, glad to know you will no longer be fooled by him from now on.
The truth is that most Chinese people do not like films by Zhang. Zhang hoped to win back the lost glory from home audience after this OC, but now it seems he may fail again.
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In 2000, I was in Beijing for 1 month. I was obsessed with buying knock-offs that looked exactly like the real thing. Prada, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, etc....
By the end of the month, zippers broke, seams lost its thread, pens broke, fabrics stained my skin, gold necklaces with authenticity certificates turned black....
My last week in Beijing, I needed to buy basic essentials like batteries, toiletries, etc.. Paying extortionate prices at reputable stores, the quality was still not up to par. Counterfeit products were impossible to identify w/ the glowing lights of department stores until the moment of quality failure.
From this experience in Beijing, I'm not surprised about the 2 inconspicuous detaling on the opening ceremonies. Having said this, China did a brilliant job.
When you walk into a Chinese house, take your shoes off. Sit back. Have Tea. They want to make sure your impression appears flawless.
No one's house is flawless.
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James
Watching on NBC after a12-hour delay, I thought I did hear Bob Costas saying something to the effect that the big footprint shots were Director Zhang Yimou's digital creation. What is all this fuss about now? At least, NBC figured it out 4 days earlier than BBC did.
As for the lip-synching, well, big deal. But I do feel for that poor little girl who was not allowed to show her face just because some blockhead thought she was not good-looking enough. They should make it up to her by letting her perform at the closing ceremony.
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James,
you do need to cite your source for this one. As far as I know, the fireworks were pre-recorded but not faked or computer generated.
There were a few drills before the real ceremony, some of which were performed during sunny nights, which made the fireworks more beautiful and astonishing. When it comes to the 8th, which was a foggy day, all the TV viewers saw the pre-recorded fireworks that was taped during the drill. That explains the traffic.
That girl - I feel so sad. I didn't think about it but from my experience living in China, that's greatly possible. Although I heard no official admitting that. Maybe you can go for a deeper investigation?
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this is a actual footprint firework at that night, and people outside did see it.
but considering helicopter can't catch the footprint firework perfectly, because of the poor visibility, the computer-generated were presented to us.
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I originally gave the opening ceremony 90 out of 100...now I will only give it 10 out of 100 even if the rest of the performance are still stunning.
Zhang Yimo is lucky, If it's in the western society the family of Yang Peiyi and Lin Miaoke will bring him to court with a compensation to top 7 digits...
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The long history many Chinese are proud of can't really stand on its own if we can't extent what's really shining within it-The seek of real beauty of science, art and humanity itself.
Zhang Yimo might get a medal for the opening ceremony but imo he also owe a public apology to the family of these two little girls. That's is what we need as a nation to truly make this game great.
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I watched the opening cermony on TV in China and to be honest I had thought at the time that the shots of the fireworks over Beijing looked fake at the time.
Cool, but fake, mainly because I had noticed in the run up how poor visiblity was when they CCTV showed live pictures of the Birds nest.
As for the girl miming to someone elses singing I am glad that folks know that this happened so that the singer can also be credited for the performance.
I can understand the Chinese wanting everything to look perfect, this was after all a case of the whole world watching them.
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I don't really have an issues with any of the CGI stuff with the fireworks, after all they've admitted it was staged and it entertained everyone - no real harm in that.
I just feel sorry for the little girl (who I thought was v cute in her own way) who was publicly judged to not be pretty enough. Must have left some lasting mental scars, particularly as she is so young.
I know all the superficial criteria for selecting hostesses etc seem a bit over the top, but I think we should be careful not to apply our cultural standards to this, we have evolved into such a politically correct society that this sort of thing is now looked down on, but that's not necessarily the same in China. We could probably do with a bit less political correctness!
Appearances just seem to be judged slightly more clinically there - on my last trip I had a few comments about a certain fold in my eyelids which was apparently a good thing to have (guess they spared me the comments on my bad aspects!). And after all, look at any product launch etc in the West and the models will all have a certain look, they just don't spell out the criteria so blatantly.
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My family and I did think the young girl was miming the song, whilst watching her performance. It's doubly disappointing to discover that she was only there because of her looks, not her talent. What a sad message this sends to the little girl considered not pretty enough, despite her great voice. Looking at her sweet face in the photo, it's hard to fathom the thinking of the Chinese officialdom.
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Hi James:
I was not able to watch the opening ceremonies!
What is the story about the lip-synching and the alternative young child.
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i dont think it does matter. im impressed this time cause this is the first time they admit what they have have done wrong.
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As an American of Chinese heritage, the good feeling in me while watching the opening ceremony of the Olympic Game was completely shattered with the released of this news. I felt cheated and angry. The deception by Chinese Olympic Organizer and the hijacking of this glorious events from the Chinese people is a flagrant violation of human dignity. I pity the girl who was "used" and officially degraded because of her "look" and to say that they were doing it for the good of their country makes a mockery of the great Chinese culture. It tells us how hollow the modern China has become! If there's any reason why the Chinese Government should not have been given the honor to host the Olympic Game, this is it. The Human right, free speech and the Tibet issues are debatable.
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in 2012 will the organisers not be looking for pretty athletic english girls to perform these tasks .... hopefully reflecting the multiculturalism of our land ..... (that the chinese don't think they have)
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maybe it's because the editor wanted us to have a better view. anyway they tried their best to do this
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As people working in the media industry, how could you have thought the aerial shots were live real shots? Can't you tell just by looking at the quality of the footage. There's no way you can get such a polished post production feel from a live broadcast coming from a helicopter.
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An Olympic opening ceremony is like any other performance designed to orchestrate an emotional response...like film or theatre, full of visual trickery, so where is it ok to draw the line in relation to how an audience is being deceived?
Spectators didn't buy tickets to see a pop star...they bought tickets to a 'show'
In any case, consider this: It's the ideals and acceptabilities of western aesthetics the organisers considered too important to ignore.
It is sad, unfair, unfortunate, yes, but then, who are we kidding. We all understand why they chose the other girl.
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the original girl for the opening was ousted, because she had crooked teeth...
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Whilst watching the Olympics on Friday night, I commented to my partner that the footprints looked computer generated. Consequently when the news broke that they were it wasn't a big shock. It would have been a feat to pull off something of that calibre, even for the Chinese.
Reading the news today, however, it broke my heart to see the 'ugly duckling' (Yang Peiyi) and the 'swan' (Lin Miaoke) who they chose to mime the song. The only reason the little girl in the red dress was so cute and held everyone in awe was because she was able to sing so beautifully, and flawlessly and at such a young age. Without that she's no different from any other sweet, adorable little girl.
In a land where you can find more counterfeit goods than genuine ones. Where the rich are so obsessed with creating the right image and looking flawless, it does not surprise me that the Chinese have created a flawless, yet fake Olympics.
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i would love to think the chinese are truly enjoying being unique. if indeed further proven factual, try reading an interesting book entitled "1421", where it says, the chinese were the first to circumnavigate the globe. chinese culture have circled around bringing plants, weaves, medicines, food, maps, mathematics, names, knowledge, in the 15th century even before christopher and ferdinand did. if being creative for them means doing things other than what we expect and what we "normally" do, then we might have a little problem here, if we can't accept that. western culture doesn't always have to dominate and create a supremacy atmosphere. no culture should, i feel. it's just wonderful to share each other's know-how and learn, learn,learn. how do i feel about that beijing oly opening? wow! the chinese did it again! :)
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What you see is reality. The fact that is has been made up is of little importance. What you do not see does not exist. The fact that it does not exist is of great importance when it comes to the potential for embarassment if it were to actually exist and there was no opportunity to deny its existence.
Maybe a helicopter could have been damaged by the fireworks, maybe they could use a drone instead. In the end it is more to do with appearance, the illusion of perfection, hence the actual perfection - you perceived it as perfect, therefore it was perfect.
Unfortunately the same approach is used in faking objects - if it is as good as the original then it is the original in the perceiver's eyes and someone can make more money. Here it is not money but prestige.
In the end, it is like a film but played out in real time - an artifical construct designed to please and wow the senses, rather than an actual real event that might go wrong. It unfortunately diminishes the impact of the real events that took place and it would have been better to have stuck with real events, not to try and fool people.
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I used to enjoy your blog since you have rather different perspectives on Chinese domestic aspects. But lately, I have to say that I got a little upset and disappointed since I have never read anything which holds a positive perspective about my country. You must have a lot of readers, and I guess they might expect something different from you once in a while.
Nevertheless I hope you have enjoyed the opening ceremony of Olympics Games in Beijing even a little bit. I was absolutely touched at the scene and I wish you have sensed the glory of Chinese past and modern days. Of course there are still many imperfect aspects, just like many other countries. But as you understand, it does not come just like that.
I am sorry to say also that I only sensed hatred/injustice in your recent blogs. If that is indeed the case, you can please report something about lovely Chinese civilians.
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1. This was entertainment not a documentary.
2. The BBC itself has been fined recently for 'fakery' in phone-in programmes.
3. This has been billed as 'China's coming out party'. "Hello, nice to meet you, I have a bunion you know!" It is accepted protocol in any culture to show your best side on first meeting. Bad form to burden others with your foibles. The best, most interesting, humourous and real-life China is a treat that must wait for foreign guests.
4. A key factor for successful western 'democratic' election candidates is aesthetics. Candidates are judged on their 'photogenic' credentials.
Oh, and James, you broadcast from Beijing, is there not a make-up artist on hand who comes along and dabs you with powder to cover-up real-life imperfections. Is this not a form of 'fakery' ?
I'm still feel overwhelmed by the opening ceremony and I do not feel cheated to learn that Li Ning can't really fly!!
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So a communist country with a dictatorship in control is not a bit like a cuddly panda. No surprise then that a child with a beautiful voice is rejected from appearing and that her voice is "loaned" to a supposedly pretty girl; no surprise that some kind of eugenic formula is used to decide who is pretty enough; no surprise that people are bussed in to fill empty stadium seats; no surprise that it is the most expensive games ever. This is a reprise of the 1936 Olympics, it is to "normal Olympics" what a show-trial is compared to blind justice. Fortunately, the Chinese government cannot rig the results (but check the dope tests thoroughly). I love the Chinese people and their work ethic and national pride - but I do not envy them their appalling government.
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Something else you might consider: we were all impressed with the massed performers working in unison. the Japanese press has been discussing a report that 9,000 of those performers were in the military. To me, that takes a bit of the lustre off the precision they exhibited.
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James Reynolds, have you ever eaten at a restaurant? Did you ever go backstage and inspect the kitchen?
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Dear James Reynolds,
Great! I like your style very much.
Thank you,
small Vietnam,
PS: This is my fist comment in bbcblog. I only would like to thank you.
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Don't airliners do this all the time while picking air hostesses?
Both girls look adorable - the organizers are morons.
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It was still a great show.
If nobody saw the fireworks, would they have known what they have missed.
And the girl is right for the show, may be they could have let her sing the song without the lip-synching to it.
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Wait, wait. China faked something and put out propaganda? Stop the presses!
It's a shame that this is what we have come to expect from China and we yet give any coverage/credence to their "official statements".
With this standard of honesty (and this is hardly isolated- see their promises to the IOC, human rights, SARS, etc.), the BBC should just ignore the Chinese Govt. view point in reporting
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Labels on clothes sold in China often say '100% Cotton'. Try them on and you'll immediately know they're not cotton. Salesgirls will tell you, 'The labels are not true.'
DVDs are almost always illegal copies. I've even found illegal copies of DVDs at Walmart in China.
Chain DIY stores sell goods that say Panasonic, National, etc. But a close inspection shows distinctive Chinese spelling and grammar errors.
Adverts for the Great Wall tout it as an authentic ancient structure but take a look. You're not surrounded by the stones or bricks trod upon by the people of centuries past, as you would be in most world class tourist spots. No, everywhere you look the bricks bear modern inscription. (Can you imagine the pyramids of Egypt with new stone blocks?)
So the point is: pretty well everything here in China is fake. Why should the Beijing Olympics not continue this unique Chinese tradition?
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China wants to impress, so in a way it isn't surprising, even though not completely honest. But I'm less bothered about this type of 'fakery,' compared to Bush/Blair's lies on WMD.
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If anyone didn't realise that part of the firework display was computer graphics then they must be pretty stupid or blind! It was so obvious I am amazed at the furore. As for the miming so what? Who cares? Does it actually change anything? No, it just gives the BBC the chance to indulge in it's favourite Olympic sport - attacking China.
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Unlike James I thought the opening sequence with the fireworks was computer generated, also the city itself was digitally enhanced. I have no problem with that and what I saw was cinematic graphic embracing the latest modern technology for the TV audience. I do not believe right at the start that it was meant to decieve, it was clear to me and I thought others would have known. To learn that foreign media is now making a fuss about being "conned" is news to me. Do they not understand modern technology? Perhaps they think Lord of the Rings is real?
The little girl who sang was clear that it was mimed, I was taken back a little that it was another girl's voice. It didnt bother me as long as the girl whose voice is used is happy about it and should be no business of anyone else's too.
Once again western media is making a fuss over trivial matters. The Chinese don't have to admit to anything but chose to reveal what happen and has no problem admitting it. I am sure the Americans would no be so open about it or they will find themslevs in Gito Bay (maybe a bit harsh but you know what I mean). Even till this day the US is still saying the 1969 Moon landing was real when everything tells you it is faked.
All that said this is no where near anything what happened in Barcelona Olympics when the man fired a lit arrow over the couldren missing the target and the couldren mysteriously lit by itself meaning the flame carried from Athens never actually lit the Olympic couldren.
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If anything, the Olympics is about what people can actually do, not about what they wish they could do. Presenting fiction as reality insults the intelligence of the rest of the world, and is plain cheesy.
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Over the years the Olympics have slowly been turned from a sporting event into a glorified show.
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It is no surprise. Chinese fakes things all the time. Most "concerts" are lip-synched and staff are recruited because of their looks. One friend was refused a job as an anonymous civil servant because she wasn't tall enough.
Even their wedding photos are fake. There are shops on every street where you can get them Photoshopped.
Even the Great Wall tourist sections are fake!
I'm sure the Chinese authorities don't even consider for a moment they did anything wrong.
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Numerous Hollywood film stars (Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady to name one) had their singing voices dubbed; the overall effect is what matters. The two little girls don`t seem to mind. I suspect Lin Miaoke did sing, they just didn`t broadcast her voice. They could have been a bit more upfront about the footprints, but I can see that getting the helicopters timing exactly right as it passed overhead was quite high risk if done live. The ceremony`s director`s background is film where such techniques are the norm. And the requirements for hostesses? Without being PC about it they wanted them the same size and shape - and pretty. Busby Berkley would have done the same; its showbiz.
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The Shanghai Hostesses thing is not surprising, but I would not condemn them for it. I was told long ago that Air China picked girls firstly for their skills then secondly for matching a rough appearance guide. When you live in a country with 1.3 billion people, going for perfection in this way is not so unreasonable.
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Not at all suprised, most of what we see on television looks like it has been computer generated.
Worse, most of the news is, quite blatently, manipulated, twisted and down-right invented to satisfy the 24/7 hunger for the next sensational story.
In years gone by we sometimes had to wait days or weeks for news stories from the other side of the world.
Now we get the story instantly, but the truth takes a week to be unravelled.
Sadly, by then, everybody is on to the next myth and the 'truth' is often ignored.
In this case the UK media seem to have decided the truth is as good a story as the myth...... I wonder why??
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i don't think that's a big problem. to make sure people watch perfect and listen perfect, why not some tricks?
you did it all the time. chose some bad sites to record your video just to make points more clear.
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What did you expect? What else would a totalitarian gov do to enhance its own image.
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And I always thought that the spinning globe shown on the BBC news was real - I was truly amazed when told the planet was not made of red stripes.
And of course as far as selecting people for more photogenic or attractive reasons; I guess this doesn't apply when the BBC (or any other TV channel for that matter) comes to selecting it's news and TV presenters.
China must be quite a boring place if their newly found presentation style is all you can find to complain about.
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Since China has been renowned for fakery of various branded products, it is hardly surprising that they applied such skills "legitimately" for this national showpiece, is it ?
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Not really that surprised by the chinese actions, knew that they would do anything to save face.
Feel sorry for the 7-year old kid, ruined her 15 minutes of fame and not the way to treat children.
This just shows how the CCP operate, no care about people's feelings even a small child's.
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Rather than focus on the negative aspects of what was a truly amazing opening ceremony, shouldn't the hosts be applauded for their collective ability to think outside the box?
I think the very fact that China's Olympic organisers cleverly edited the footage so wonderfully is a marvel in itself.
As for using a more photogenic girl, this is rather sad, but it's also a tuef reflection of what happens in the real world and that of reality tv where would be contestants are judged not only on ability but on looks too. In short James, get with the programme.
I could be wrong here, and I have no idea why this should be so, but I suspect that like our 2012 Olympic committee you are green with envy of the hosts and their wonderful opening ceremony.
All we know is that the 2012 British organising committee will do well to put on a show that is half as good as the Chinesse tour de force.
Fake fireworks or not, you can guarantee that if we choose a young girl to sing she won't have a face like a blind cobbler's thumb. IF you care to suggest otherwise, then I'm afraid that it appears the Beijing smog has clouded your thinking... :0)
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A big lesson to China, at least to the government. Political opinion should not be involved in entertainment!
However, all of these "fake" performance were voluntarily admitted by the organisers. At least, this is a very key signal to see how open China society is now!
After Olympic, China will become more open and confident.
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Lies, Lies, Lies that's all we've seen from Beijing. Very disappointing. Perhaps when the Olympics come to London we could rope in Steven Spielberg and maybe have a CGI Tyrannosarus Rex wandering around the olympic stadium at the opening ceremony !! What a sham
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In reading some of the comments below, I see a lot of Chinese people seem to be angered by the blog as if Western media seems to be picking on them unfairly.
I, for one, feel that these fake events reflect badly on China. They will do anything to put on a good despite what the reality may be. I think it's their general motto in politcs as well. I didn't see any of the ceremony and frankly would have been too saddened by China's dismal civil rights record (and across the globe) to pay much attention to their $20 billion show.
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Yes, I can see where you are coming from.
Did the miming and the overlayed images cost anyone any money? Er, no.
I suppose the BBC is very clean when it comes to those kind of things, well apart from the ....."not-quite-what-we-thought-they-were" Radio competitions.
Can you find something more important to write about while you are in China? You are wasting the license fee.
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First of all, James, thank you very much for your reports and comments. I really appreciate your efforts on pollution reporting. You have really pushed a lot of buttons in China. They need to wake up.
Secondly, I am a Russian-Jewish American living in Taipei. Based on my observations here, I am not surprised at all by the deceptive practices. This is similar to moving the pollution monitoring stations. And calling their excessive PM10 pollution ?fog or haze?. Sure!! Not surprised at all.
I wish we had access to the ozone and PM2.5 pollution numbers, too. PM2.5 in Taipei is usually above the WHO guideline of 25?g/m?, some days 2 to 3 times the guideline. Ozone here is regularly above the WHO guideline of 100 ?g/m? = 50 ppb. I can only imagine what it is in Beijing.
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Imagine that little girl being told, 'Well done, lovely voice you have there, unfortunately you're too ugly to perform at the ceremony.' An appalling way to treat a child, 'national interest' or not.
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Quite frankly the fact that what you saw on TV wasn't actually what was happening doesn't surprize me in the slightest.
Having lived in China for over 6 years now you realise that EVERYTHING is fake anyway....watches, designer bags, tee shirts, even the booze!
So the Opening Ceremony was fake too - BIG DEAL.
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I found the use of the two girls diabolical. As a parent myself, how could the parents allow it? By doing so were they not agreeing one girl was 'pretty' and one 'not up to scratch'. It's a sad world to be judged on looks at such an early age. The actual singer in my opinion would have been a truer representative of the country and what the Games stand for.
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hahahaha, James , I bet you are very happy now. Finally you got something to write now.
But as far as I can concern, it is just a show, a live film. So what ???
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Too much has been made of the fakery. Afterall, it's not as if the UK media is an inspiring example after the phone in scams. I hope the London 2012 games are more low-key, and deliver a real legacy rather than massive derelict venues.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
as far as I know, this has been widely reported in Chinese media as well, I don't see why james shouldn't be writing about this as well. Just that everything he writes become China-bashing automatically in some people's mind.
I'm not too worried about the 'fake' fireworks but I think it's just sick to try to justify your government for anything they do, even for something that could potentially hurt this talented little singer. So far I have seen these people here trying to justify the authorities but I just think they have little concern for the little one. How would she feel? I can understand some people are angry, not for the fact that it's faked, but the fact that the authorities don't seem to care what effect this has on the child.
What kind of national interest does this serve anyway? It seems that the authorities are the only ones who think the singer girl is not good enough to sing in the actual ceremony. I cannot see how China's image would be dented if the real singer girl were shown to the world at the stadium.
When 'face' is at stake, the Chinese government can often do pretty unbelievable things. Unfortunately these things often backfire.
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What the hell people? The opening ceremony was a show, who said everything had to be live? If you go and see a show in the cinema, do you expect to see real Jedis slicing each other with light sabers?
You people are so unreasonable beyond belief!
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This debacle has given London the perfect opportunity in 2012 to get back to basics and put an end to the 'we can spend more than you' opening-ceremony syndrome. I suggest a few Scots guards and a scattering of candles should do the trick. Anything more would probably bankrupt us.
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It's television! It's show business! What did you expect? I could tell the fireworks footage was computer generated the moment I saw it. Hasn't anyone been to the cinema recently? As for the miming, I didn't care much for all that stuff although I do agree with those who thought the actual singer was more real and should have been shown.
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When I watched the ceremony, for a second I thought the firework footprints couldn't be 100% real (it was far too 'perfect') and that the singing girl looked liked she mimed it. So this did not come as a surprise to me at all.
Then I thought, who really cares. At least they admitted to the fakery. Now if they had denied it (like they do with many things) then we can raise our eye-brows. Another side of me feels sorry that they thought that Yang was not photogenic enough and that they assumed it would kill the effect. In the end I think it would make little difference.
The defend James, the British media would probably criticise our own Olympics more than the Chinese media criticise their's (which they don't seem to at all). In fact, we are already lambasting the projected cost of the whole thing since day one of being awarded it so there is none of this 'singling China out' nonsense.
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I can't believe all this is considered news worthy by the media let alone the BBC.
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I think this article reveals little more than that some people among the Chinese Olympics organisers have a set of priorities and values that are not identical to those of Mr James Reynolds, the author of the article.
The Chinese Olympic organisers wanted to put on a good show; it is theatre and all theatre is 'fake' in some respects. If it wasn't fake, it wouldn't be theatre.
There is no particular reason why every person should have identical values and priorities, it would be foolish to expect it so.
What is interesting for me is Mr Reynold's reaction to the Chinese theatre. Perhaps by examining our own reactions to another persons values and priorities, we can learn something interesting or useful about our own, and about ourselves.
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The problem with the West particulalrly in the UK is that no one can be damned for faling, disable and even ugly. In school sports day nobody wins and no one loses. In exams everyone gets a pass and nobody fails. In reality TV shows ugly overweight women have their egos artificially inflated as "beautiful" this suited the British mentality how they don't celebrate success and why they have few sporting success.
I am glad China is one of the few countries that are not retricted by pandering to poltical correctness and still calls a spade "a spade". This is why economically China is such a success and is showing this in their sports too.
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I knew James would definitely write a long post with vivid picture about this! I would only think it is really pathetic that while Olympics is ongoing and athletes are focusing on their competition after years and years of effort, all BBC cares about is the show that China provided which was far beyond their expectation. Now they find something to blame China for again! Bravo!
The fact is China won't become less strong and powerful because of this. If you have that much free time, go ahead and win more gold medals for Team GB or try to stop yobs stabbed on the street if you can.
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The big issue here is not the individual choices that event or media organizers make to present their show in the best light - that, after all, is done every night of the week on TV shows around the world.
The real issue is the intrusive, controlling role of the Chinese state in people's lives.
Naomi Kline has dubbed China's social model "McCommunism" - a hybrid of authoritarian state control mashed with the economics of developed capitalism.
The really scary thing is - it "works". This means it will be appealing to other developed capitalist and developing nations as a political model.
Unless we stop it.
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If the ugly chinese gymnasts and the other ugly chinese participants can attend the olympics and represent their country due to their undoubted talent then why not let the ugly little girl sing the song and show off her talent!
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Remember. The Olympic is a show. What is wrong of using special effect. If it was directed by the Hollywood famous director, people would give different opinions.
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Some people can't stand others success and they always try thier best to find a weak point and start sterring rather than saying something good about their positive things.
Im sick of hearing about China's pollution and human rights nonesense...Im sure there are other countries worse than China and how come no body went Iraq to climb a pole and protest... its all about politics and getting media attentions.
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In my opinion, both of these events, and lots else that are likely to happen are all down to one thing; the fact that China is a one-party state.
It's almost like dothing one's cap to the Nazi's German Olympics and the Soviet games in Moscow.
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I am surprised that anyone is surprised by this.
China has so much at stake with the Games, and seems so self-conscious about its public image, that it was bound to want to ensure it all looked perfect.
And who decides when fakery is appropriate and when it is not? Fakery and the media have a long history.
What about Audrey Hepburn being dubbed in My Fair Lady? All that miming on 'Top of the Pops' - for years? The fact that everyone appearing on TV goes to make-up first?
And what about the games themselves?
For years we were told it was about about the nobility of 'amateurs' competing for the sake of sport, when the fact that many competitors were effectively full-time athletes was blindingly obvious (the Americans with their College Sports Scholarships, the USSR with its military, etc). The Olympics have always been vulnerable to nationalistic displays of prowess.
The only person I feel sorry for is the little girl who actually sang the song: the whole world has now been told that she isn't 'good looking'. That's terrible - I for one think she looks just like any other little girl.
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Well done China for the best opening ceremony ever seen.
If the BBC concentrated more on beauty and less on the seemy side of life we would be a much happier nation. Sincerely, Tricia D-M
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The opening ceremony was indeed spectacular and very enjoyable.
I don?t think we can compare the fakery with the likes of Hollywood and Bollywood. In these circumstances we anticipate and pay for something we know is unrealistic, generated and often unnatural.
I believe the Olympics should be transparent and although I don?t have so much of an issue with the faux elements, the fact that the Chinese committees would have happily sat back and kept hush huh until the cat was let out of the bag seems pretty dishonets.
By the way, as commented on before, many of the Fireworks at the start were computer generated which is such a shame and really shatters some of the illusion for me. And yes it does matter! China has responded with it being in the ?countries interest? but I?m not sure if it wasn?t in their better interest to avoid this in the first place.
Still the Olympic go on. A great world event in a stunning, if not controversial country.
As usual, less of the BBC bashing please?
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I think James is right to raise this. That way the public make up their own minds. The treatment of the two children irked me far more than some CG shots. The way the organisers subverted youthful innocence to present a friendly happy face of China when in reality that friendly genuine face was deemed a national embarassment.
I think those that defend China would do well to bear in mind that this country has oppressed all opposition throughout living memory and crushed descent ruthlessly. There is no freedom of speech in the country and the games should never have been given to such a shameful regime to manipulate the world with. Iraq or North Korea for the next games perhaps? The world cowtows to China only because it is scared of its power, it has nothing to do with respect.
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I am sick of the Western media trying to find every possible minute reason to criticise the wicked Commie Chinese and their games.
The fireworks were computer generated? I figured that out at the time... but so what? And I thought that lip-sinc'ing to pre-recorded music is the norm not the exception in this age... but again, so what?
Speaking of lies and fakery, we could apply that also to Western media who report on the hazy skies over Beijing as if they were caused solely by pollution, but in actuality are caused by natural mist and massive sandstorms which frequently blow in from Mongolia and engulf the city.
We are here for sport, can we at least try and enjoy the Games?
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I reckon it's only a show, so a mimic or even some fake fireworks (IF they were fake) is not such a big issue. A show is a show.
However, when the West organised a full scale war in the Middle East based on forged evidence, it took the world a few years to realise what has happaned - and the war is still on...
Moreover, when Western defense institutions provided the media with counterfeit photos to convince us about the "right to intervene" to the Balkans (having as a result killing dozens of refugees instead of bombing illegal weapons), we still haven't realised the "mistakes" yet...
Let's do our self-critisism first on serious issues before going to lighter ones.
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Ooooh another reason to throw our hands in the air and lament the outrageous behavior of the Chinese. But let's face it, these items don't really measure up to the likes of the US govt's "Saving Private Lynch" or BBC/ITV competition fakery for gross public deception.
Ask yourself, how many plain ordinary faces grace our TV screens on a daily basis? Very few and even if they could levitate and sing like an angel you are still unlikely to see them front anything more than their school fete. Of course they might be put on a TV talent show so as the public can have a good laugh at them.
I think the moral for this story is "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
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Personally I don't think there is much problem to use another girl's voice or pre-recorded TV footage. However, the Chinese OIC should have informed the mass media before the start of the opening ceremony but not after it.
I read the news that the original voice of the ceremony girl was going to be used but than a high rank (usually low IQ) official said that the voice of the girl was not good enough and he requested the production team to use the voice of another girl.
Same problem. The weather forecast indicated that there would be rain during the opening ceremony so a high rank (usually low IQ) official requested to use pre-recorded footage.
A lot of of university educated (many educated overseas) graduates were employed by the Chinese government but as long as the older generation in the government doesn't go China will always have these kind of scandals.
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For me it's the same thing as drug cheating in the name of so called "national interest", it's shameful.
I am a Chinese and usually quite critital of the Chinese givernment. But even I was moved by that singing episode in the opening ceremony, though I realised at the same time that this image of 56 happy ethnic groups in China was fake and the government was using the whole event to exploit Chinese nationalism.
Now we can see how much the authority care about China's international image, in a very srange way, because they don't seem to be bothered by the image problem created by the imprisonment of those harmless human rights activists in China.
Cui Jian, one of the best rock musician in China, has campaigned for years agains lip-synching. It would be a good idea to interview him, James.
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I can't believe it! The Chinese Government has been decieving The West!
You'll be surprising us all by telling us the Russian Government has territorial and/or economic ambitions in other countries next!
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I am sick to death of double standards and how politics seem to infiltrate into everything we talk about in this olympics!
As for the fireworks, I think they were great as a visual stunt and if the foolproof way of doing it is by pre-recording it, I think its fair play. If China really had made someone fly between the fireworks on live TV, I would like to see the reaction people would have if an accident happened- what would they say then? "China's lack of respect for human life" or "China's will for perfection gone too far" -something along the same lines. If a balance has to be struck between authenticity and safety, its only fair that they play it safe.
With respect to the girl miming to anothers voice, don't you think as organizers you would choose someone whos more photogenic? This is probably one of the biggest events in China's modern history and it should be expected that they want everything to look nice. One must also remember that the girl was a pinnacle in the opening ceremony, the least they could do is choose someone who looks good. As for the genuine girl singing in the background- well sorry love- that makes the difference between a DJ and a TV star.
Coming to the gist of the matter: why is everything in the olympics linked to the Communist party and the government? YES they rule the country, but for gods sake open your eyes and see the new China. There maybe alot left to be desired but give them some time to change. If this was a truly communist country they wouldn't be an economic superpower now. Bejing residents would be on bikes rather than flashy new cars.
More importantly; apart from organizing the games, what role does the CPC play in the games? Its the olympics and its a competition of human abilities and not flexing of political might.
I'm not challenging anyone here but please just look at this with an open mind.
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I am much less concern about fake imagery to enhance visual enjoyment than fake news that cause wars and racial hatreds. James?
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Anyone else reading the above comments get the feeling that it's been infiltrated by a propaganda machine?
Maybe it's just me. Seems like there are many comments with a similar 'voice' attempting to discredit topic.
Personally, I don't think that what the Chinese did was big deal in this instance. However, the wider trend on information control (externally and internally) does heighten suspicion and weaken credibility.
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I feel ashamed of the miming as a Chinese citizen! I can't imagine how the Yang's parent had explained to their daughter, who contributed the real voice at the ceremony. They didn't choose her because of her face, but why did they retain her voice and let another girl sing on the stage? From the point of Chinese, Lin is really pretty and cute, but not as genuine as a child. She even told the reporter that she usually sing better when there're more audience. Who taught her to lie in public? Her parents, her teacher or Mr. Chen?
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Thanks for the smoke and mirrors peice about the Chinese. How do you explain our governments misleading claim about weapons of mass destruction? There is fiction and there is FICTION.
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It is sad that the BBC has become the 'gutter press' in TV land.
It appears that you go out of your way to find some dirt on China so that you can present it to the world.
The BBC should remember that we will be hosting the Olympics in 2012. How would we feel if the world's media went out of their way to show us in a bad light (teenage killings, binge drinking and violence, illegal wars that our so-called leaders have pushed us into, introduction of draconian laws that restrict our freedoms etc) instead of focusing on the Olympics?
Shame on you BBC, you spiteful organisation.
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the Chinese regime is one of the most disgusting in the world....anyone watching their Olympics deserves to be conned
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Mariko2008 says, 'what I saw was presented as real'. Was it? Nobody swore that everything was happening in real time. It was quite obvious that the little singer was miming. This was a seamless production combining the video screen and unfolding scroll, pre-recorded music and fireworks and live performers.
The whole aim of this event was to produce a spectacle as flawless and perfect as artists and technicians could make it. Don't complain that you couldn't see the joins - it doesn't matter how it was created. The show was a triumph!
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just an extra thought (thank you for #68) the Olympics are about an ideal of truth, peace and human achievement.
Notice the word Truth. If you want to have Truth in the Olympics then don't make things up. Would it be considered OK for an athlete to cheat and then state that he deserved the gold medal because he has a better physique/looks than the silver medalist?
We all know that ideals are only words and dreams, but this is the real deal.
"One World - One Dream" - dream on....
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The rather minor examples of the "less pretty" girl being cheated of her fame and the faked up fire-works are actually not so trivial. China has a pretty face of the modern technological power, second to none in all pursuits. But I wont say that China is that ugly in reality. (like the real singer who is actually quite sweet and pretty). It is the deceit that is the problem. Any nation that believes deceit is good and right for the "national good" can hardly be trusted not to colour it's children?s toys with lead paint can it?
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I think the article is spot on and it is very revealing that the argument from all the pro-fakers is simple: You have no right to criticize China. Translation in the real world: disagree with China and we will strangle you economically. Says it all really.
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i was hoping that janet jackson was going to come on and have a "wardrobe malfunction"
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It doesn't bother me that elements of the opening ceremony were pre-recorded, or dubbed. Including the piano part, which was so obviously dubbed, that no-one in the media has reported mock indignance at.
To be honest, what I saw live in the Olympic stadium was spectacularlar and visually stunning and a few dubbed or pre-recorded bits here and there inserted to preserve continuity don't matter one bit.
I only hope the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony is half as spectacular and not some dreary dome-like disaster created by a wishy-washy committee. Which I expect it will be.
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Because everybody is expecting Phelps to win eight gold in swimming,will they fake it if he fails?
eyeswiredopen. NZ
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I'd really like to know why my last comment was removed when it only contained the name of a video website where you could see the real foot print fireworks. As per the house rules, the comment did not contain any website address, only the website name and not any direct URL to the video. So what's the problem? Don't want people to see the real video? Moderators, please sort this out.
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Mr Reynolgs,
You are confusing several things:
1. The firewook footage (only the footsteps part) is PRE-RECORDED, not computer generated. Is it so wrong to show the best footage to billions of TV audience who are watching?
2. Typical of BBC / Western media trying to put down China - by reporting on trivial things. Let me guess, all the performers are "fakes" too? Did they not rehearse for 1 year?
3. The pretty girl is miming. Yes. so did some singers at concerts. What is the big deal? Did the other girl complained? From what I read, she was "happy" her voice was used and heard by billions. Lets get real, LOOKS MATTER in this world. Do you ever see ugly people in TV ads? Lets see how many ugly people we see in London 2012 perform live on a big screen hey?
4. Let's see how London 2012 does LOL - hope your reporting will be "unbiased" too.
5. BBC has been fined recently for fake phone-in competitions, which actually CHEATED people money by charging the calls. In contrast, did the fakery here cost people money?
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I really find this nit-picking quite distasteful. It seems as though western media outlets just cannot bear the fact that Beijing 'did good', and deprived them of their China Bashing opportunity.
I can't imagine London 2012 parading their ASBO credentials and teenage pregnancies for the whole world to see.
China is far from perfect, but is wearing makeup a sin?
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Any regular computer gamer, etc etc could tell the footprints were c.g.
eyes wiredopen . nz
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I for one thought that the opening ceremony was fantastic, and so what if a couple of minor things were "faked" so what? They added to my enjoyment of it, so good for them. It does seem that the only people who really care about this are the Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, who, it seems, have spent a lot of air time trying to find fault with the Chinese organisation of these Olympics. I'm not sure why this is, maybe because they have not been alowed to look at naughty websites from their hotel rooms.
As the next hosts, we should be very very careful what we criticise, lets face it, even if we had 50 years to prepare we will never be able to put on anything as spectacular as the opening ceremony we have just seen. We probably won't be able to use children at all as it will infringe their human rights, and expose them to the evils of competition too soon, fireworks will be banned on health and safety reasons, we will only be able to half fill the stadium in case there is an emergency, and the sound will have to be turned down at 10pm to appease local residents. Leaving us with 4 minis and some Morris Dancers. I rather hope that we see sense and fake our entire opening ceremony, we may at least then be able to compete.
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Here's a thought: in 2012 let's make the entire Olympics computer-generated and save an enormous amount of time, money and effort.
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When i heard the news about the little girl and the "fake" firwork the first thing that came to my mind was " hmm i wonder whats for dinner tonight..." point is who cares? I was moved when i watched the show and i still feel the same way.
At least in china we dont look down upon you just beacuse you are not chinese ... in fact we will respect you more! This is better than the treatment we chinese get from you UK people......
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I like both girls very much. The person disclosed the true is understandable. To be fair, he wanted to give Yang Peiyi a credit as well. I would say this is a team work. This is a show, not a singing competition. I don't think all the actors and actress used their own voice in the films.
It is people who like to see beauties on spots, that is why princess Diana was chased by so many camera men disregard any costs involved.
Chinese didn't say Yang Peiyi ugly, however many Weston reports and comments used unpleasant words to insult the girl. I hope this experience make both girls stronger.
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Though I personally dislike China, but I am surprised at the Western media's picking of these 2 trivial issues to belittle China's amazing feet at the Olympic ceremony. Both the acts are withing reasonable levels of acceptability.
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Stop getting stuck in the West vs China box!!
Imagine if Russia is hosting their first Olympics in 100 years (100!!Super Bowl happens every year, no big deal), and have computer generated fireworks, mimicing girls who takes all the credit for 5 days, and organisers that use volunteers to fill up the stands.
Think about how proud Putin is gonna be.
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By the way why is James getting all the stick? His comments are very genuine compare to some adjectives other forums have used. Even my mates in New Zealand find this news amusing, and Kiwis arn't even into politics or anti-China campaign (we just allowed a pro-Beijing Olympics rally at the city centre at the main square with 4000 Chinese attending 2 months ago)
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Miming happens all the time in western countries..superbowl..pop concerts.
Child actors/actresses,singers, performers get chosen on the basis of looks all the time in the west.
Does it really matter that a 20 second video clip was computer animated?
Why is there so much China bashing on the bbc?
I wish I had the 'freedom' to boycott paying the license fee but alas, I'm forced by the UK authorities to support this morally corrupt and bias news organisation.
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The empty seats at the stadium are largly a result of people buying tickets and only turning up for the stuff they want to see.
The pretty girl doing the mime? Nothing new there. Hollywood actress made to look better by being photgraphed with someone else's legs. Female leads walking in a trench to make the male lead look taller than her. And even with headsets, do you really believe that pop-stars can dance and sing like that without even a shake in their voice?
Anyone that has tried to film fireworks will know that there is a big measure of luck in getting it right. What we saw on TV was the real thing but at different times. The people at the stadium got the real thing ok.
This isnt about faking. This is about seeing the Chinese doing what everyone else has been doing for years.
They put on a super show that represented a lot of effort. Thank you China.
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Hooo boy. What to make of all this?
First off, to those calling this "China-bashing", dear lord you couldn't be much further from the truth. Reynolds doesn't actually offer much of an opinion on the story - the closest he comes is saying he was "surprised" but not "shocked". Otherwise he is simply reporting on the story and then - shocker - asks us, the public, for their opinion. "Picking on China"? Please.
As for those who think this isn't worthy of being reported: it's a story. It's got public interest (yesterday, 12th August it was one of the most read and emailed stories on the site). It may not be of critical world importance, such as the Russia/Georgia conflict, but it's still worth a read. There's stories and there's stories, and this was a curious aside to the ongoing Olympic coverage.
Was I shocked or surprised? Well, a little surprised, but not especially so. Maintaining perspective, one little girl had her voice replaced, and another little girl was judged to not be pretty enough to perform to the entire world. It's not at all pleasant, clearly, but I think we can get over it.
Also, bear in mind that if that was Yang Peiyi standing there, singing *live* to the *whole world*.... that's the sort of pressure I wouldn't want to put on a child that age.
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"londonlurker" wrote:
"I myself don't think the firework and lipsync matter that much though. .... (ii) Not sure about the west though. (i) Will you guys show how dirty your houses are when people come to visit?"
(i) What Chinese organizer did was in fact like, after tidying up a house for the visitors, feed them "cats food" and then lie to them that what they are eating is, in fact, "Foie Gras"....
(ii) What does "the West" got to do with anything you are saying?? Best to keep discussing "facts", not your "anti-West sentiment".
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Everyone knows that the splendour of the opening ceremony will be remembered when London gets a damp, limp squib of a ceremony in four years time..."but, at least our's is real" will be bleated by Lord Coe.
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I still love every minute of this opening ceremony. Remember the archer in Barcelona, i love that one too even though the arrow didn't actually light the flame.
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A show is a show. There is no clear line between ?fake? and ?real? in art. It is not ruled by political or sports rules. In art, when you ?fake? something, it becomes less valued. For example, an electronic piano can produce magic sounds, even like a flute, a violin, or a trumpet, but it can never be compared with a classic piano. The directors obviously forgot this basic rule. For the footprint fireworks, maybe it is not necessary for the directors to make more efforts. It would be too difficult. However, in the case of the girl singer, they made a mistake due to misjudgement. What they did was absolutely not necessary.
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Its not just the Chinese that are exercising censorship and subterfuge. I've tried to access video pics of the opening cermony, as I missed it live, but they mysteriously all seem to be withdrawn. There are a few amateur videos and still pictures around and short reports from the network agences but nothing of any substance. Why would this be I wonder?
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WHAT AWFUL DECEIT BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
IT ALMOST MAKES TONY BLAIR'S MISREPRESENTATIONS (LIES?) ABOUT THE REASONS FOR GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ PALE INTO INSIGNIFICANCE.
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Check ths medals guys and gals. Are they REALLY gold.
The fireworks can be forgiven -- maybe they were worried about weather conditions on the night of the event. But not allowing a Chinese child to sing at the event because she was not good-looking enough is appalling: imagine the complex she may grow up with. Give that child a medal -- a real gold one.
2012 in London? Let's call the whole thing off: alas, the Olympics are less about sport and more about sponsorship and future sponsorship these days.
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HAYDON writes that James is wasting the licence fee. As a licence fee payer (are you a licence fee payer HAYDON?) I can assure you that I find James's blogs very amusing, but not half as amusing as the orchestration displayed in the offended sensibilities and nationalistic rantings of the Chinese Anglophone community. A FIRST CLASS use of MY licence fee.
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I think it was a fantastic ceremony which I watched from beginning to end. I don't see any problem with the procedure the hostesses were selected or the way one girl's talent was blended with that of another one. And the pyro technical display? The importance lies with how it impressed people at the time, not the way it was done. I do not really favor articles that seem to seek discredit of the Chinese hosted olympics.
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Oh for goodness sake - who cares? Even without the fireworks or little girl, the opening ceremony was still fantastic. I think this is just typical of the British to put down the competition instead of just rising to the occasion themselves. What bad sportsmanship!
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Looks like good journalism comes from writing about controversies, not balanced perspectives. So be it then. Congratulations to dear James.This is yet another successful post.
Reading the above comments, I got the feeling than there are two sides fighting. One tries so hard to save China's face, another tries as hard to prove China is evil. These attempts make all the comments less sincere. There are facts shouldn't have been denied, and there are blames that China doesn't deserve.
The firework is nothing to criticize. But the lip-sync is clearly morally controversial, otherwise there won't be many Chinese come to defend it. Nothing wrong to admit.
I really feel sorry for the girl who has to hide behind the curtain. But as long as she feel happy and proud, who am I to judge? I don't have the answer.
On the other hand, this time, the ceremony committee divulged this info volunteerly. I imagine that they are trying to show that they care about the people behind the scene. This may be seen as hypocritical, but at least it's an improvement. At least they tried to say they care.
I have also notice another detail, that they let the performers under the chinese character boxes showed their faces at the end of the performance. I was very happy that they did because they deserved the applaud.
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What about the undulating boxes that Hugh Edwards told us weren't computer controlled and which, at the end, were shown to have people inside them (even though the pistons that raised and lowered them were clearly visible around the edges)!
It's showbusiness!! It's not supposed to be real!!
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I'm not too bothered of the fact that some of the opening ceremony was 'faked'. It was only a small part in comparison to the huge event it was and it was still spectacular!
However, I was disappointed to hear about the miming and think it's sad that the other girl did not get to perform because she wasn't 'pretty' enough. I think, like many others, that she should perform at the closing ceremony.
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First I was annoyed, but then thought it wasn't that big a deal. The fireworks on screen wasn't filmed live but the fireworks were there - no problem.
Miming is fine, but mining another girl is unnecessary. Still no big a deal. I don't feel cheated, the ceremony was amazing.
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A bit rich of the BBC to complain about TV shots being faked, would they like to comment on the "live" highlights package shown at 7pm on BBC1 each day (other than how awful it is)?
The occasional edit jump during interviews and the fact that the cityscape behind Gabby changes qute a few times during the programme and the fact that nobody in their right mind would stay up until 2am local time to appear on it.
The only thing that makes me think it might be live is that, if it was recorded, you'd let Gabby go back and correct the numerous mistakes she makes and you'd never have really shown David Florence "walking on the moon" after seeing it once.
Before you say "We make no intention of saying it's live", then stop Gabby trying to tell us it's 2am in Beijing then.
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As for the girl picking... China can do that, and it's the same as models not being able to have that career if not the right height. No big deal again.
Have you had stomach issues yet? That's way more interesting.
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You will be telling us next that Li Ning didn't actually defy gravity when he ran round the stadium roof with the Olympic torch but was held up by wires !
It was plainly obvious that the firework footage was pre-recorded and that the girl was miming, but who cares ?
And, of course, the BBC never fakes anything, does it ?
Why does the BBC spend my licence fee sending reporters half way round the world to write such fatuous reports ?
I would expect this sort of thing from the tabloid press and not from one of the world's most distinguished broadcasters.
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Using miming is pretty normal. But getting rid of the real girl because she wasn't pretty enough (specifically because her teeth were 'too crooked') is very creepy.
That shot of the fireworks was clearly CGI - I can't believe so many people thought it was real. How do fly a helicopter smoothly and perfectly in time with fireworks, and keep the camera focused on them all?
But, as others have said, those fireworks did actually exist, so it wasn't a complete fiction.
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Frankly, I think it's time we all admitted we just don't like the chinese... (I'm playing devil's advocate BTW)
Come on, this could happen in the west. Does Disneyworld have computer generated cartoon characters flying around all the time that you can see?
This is just another excuse to look sideways at China. Who bloody cares if the kid mimed (it was obvious while watching the ceremony to anyone who used to watch TOTP and has half a brain).
As for the exploding feet... were they explcitily labelled as being a CGI job, or did the BBC just jump on the footage (as mentioned in this piece of comment) as it was a rather impressive display (and also keyed in well to the old "oh yes, they invented fireworksm, didn't they" lazy journalistic impulse)... and now the BBC is feelnig a bit sheepish and needs to moan a little about it? (through the impulses of individual journos, mind, I doubt this has been in a company-wide memo)...
I think the reporting of this stuff is pointless. Go and find something better to do, like ending our involvement in wars we didn't vote for. Or exposing whitehall inadequacy here in the UK. Or something USEFUL.
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Well the Chinese are being accused of showing style over substance.Well It was said the fireworks had to have a plan b because of the smog,which rings true,but the replacement of the girl is shallow and unpleasant,but much of our culture is the same,look at politics for instance.The one thing we have to crow about is democracy,that however is being eroded because the corporations envy China's stability.It could be an olypic race to the bottom.Welcome to globalisation!
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I don't understand why so many people cares wether the firework and the girl singer are genuine. The job of artists is not to show you the real thing. Instead, It is their duty to fool your eyes and brains so that you "see" something fantastic and feel unreal. Photographers, magicians and movie directors all do that!!
It is right to do so unless they intentionally cover up the fact, which is not the case for the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony. They told you the truth!!
If a movie can use computer generated graphics, why can't an Olympic Opening Ceremony? If a movie star can have someone else to jump out of a train, why can't a girl? Anyway, people did not go to the bird nest to listen to that girl singing. She was barely unknown before she took that small part of that show.
Remember, This is not a competition. This is just a show.
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Poor James,poor Britons.
Did you mention how you got this information? I can reminder you that the director team of this opening ceremony held a press conference to tell the pubilc about some stories behind the scenes. If Chinese really wanted to hide these things(I do not think they could be so silly.),the public can never get these stories. So nobody wanted to hide these, but you and many of your British journalists are trying hard to protray them as scandals hiden by Chinese government.
As a Beijinger and have spent 3 years in London for study, I think it is really sad and pitiful that,actually nowadays, all British pride,confidence and superiority are all from the faked stories made by those great British journalists.
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China is preoccupied with its image. That's what this whole circus is about anyway isn't it? China is hardly above lying. If its government would lie about the trivial, who could believe anything it says that's important. The entire thing is being stage managed. Is that what Olympics are supposed to be about? It's one thing to do some advertising but spending 42 or 82 billion dollars or whatever you believe on a two week event when you know that everyone who has ever promised that an Olympics would bring long term financial net benefits has lied and been proven false is a travesty. This especially true at a time when 700 million Chinese live on $2 a day or less. That is the real story going on here, not the Olympics themselves, why isn't BBC or anyone else reporting it? Will Britain spend as much on the 2012 Olympics to equal or outdo China while there are still waiting lists on the NHS for medical services? The government should fall if it does. But China's government cannot fall, at least not by elections. China is a totalitarian dictatorship and if the tyrants who run it decide that tens of billions on a two week publicity stunt is more important that rebuilding the earthquake zone, the Chinese will just have to live with it.
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It's soooo difficult for some Chinese posters here to admit both things were a mistake. They fell they must come up with all sorts of explanations and justifications, or simply dismiss the problem altogether, for the sake of "saving face". Don't you see how harmful this attitude is for the image of China? Wouldn't it be wiser to say 'sorry, it was a wrong thing to do'? If anything, this would help China save face in this embarassing situation.
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"Again, I assumed that what we saw at the time was real"
You didn't realise at the tine that she was miming? The lip syncing was really quite bad...
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My 6 year old could tell the girl was lip syncing (not real well either) to a pre-recorded song.
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You have change the subject, James, because of too many sour grapes eaten? Talking Olympics fakeries, you refer to the Olympics Games: drugs , etc.
Then you don't change the subject referrring to the opening ceramony show, which is no part of any Olympics competition hence this is no subject to "fakery".
In short, It was a SHOW, a movie, an artistic presentation which only answered to teh show director's personal view. Lip sync, so what? It is not an EuroVision song contest, ok?
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It's really a shame to mention that I am student of a British university in China. Why do not you Britons just try to improving yourselves instead of criticisiing your competitor. From the impression of you media, as a nation you are really far from a respective competitor. Sadly you are squandering and destroying your ancestors' honor and pride.
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do you see how the english mind is structured, and manipulated by the media? what i see is a massive success by the chinese people and government; fantastic arenas, great event management, a quite remarkable achievement for any country of the world to pull off. well done!! how do the english report it? we focus on the negatives: hasty 'fakery' decisions made by the chinese which they may now regret, the ticket touts, the empty seats. i'm not trying to change the world here, i'm just asking you, YOU, reading this. do you see my point? congratulations China for a job well done! we forgive you your errors, and overlook our political, tibetan and carbon emission issues with you for a moment to thank you for a splendid olympic games. and when it's over, we'll be back to discuss the real issues concerning mother earth once more, rather than focusing on whether the toilet paper in the 3rd mens cubicle at the athletics arena was up to the required standard set by our judgemental western mind. it's a course in miracles!
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I don't understand why people are getting so upset about this piece, and among other things, accusing the writer of belittling China's efforts, not understanding chinese culture and outright racism.
At no point in the article does he express such thoughts, or any other opinion beyond surprise that one girl's voice was used whilst another appeared before the crowds.
The article neither condones nor condemns how the opening ceremony was put together. The author quite clearly asks us for our opinions on the above, and does not tell us what we should think.
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I am a glamour photographer in the UK and take photos of models, 99% of these girls are not 100% perfect and I use photoshop to edit out imperfections such as spots, hair displacement, skin blemishes, etc. All magazines you see employ the same trick and it is perfectly acceptable. So what is the BBC going to do? Demand magazine publishers like Cosmopolitan, FHM, Maxim, Loaded, etc to come clean or face closer?
I think not!
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who cares about the girl miming
Loads of british shows including Top of the pops have had miming performances for years. Stop whining and get over it.
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What surprised me is why you are always so eager to venting out your ignorance about things you are talking. As a journalist from BBC, you should do some homework before you post your blog for the sake of respect for the name of BBC. I don't understand how you didn't find out the footprint fireworks shown on TV are not live ones. Does your finding show your professionalism? As to the two girls, I have to say it's a stupid decision. They can record Lin's voice to the best of her performance. But I'm glad the director revealed that it's the other girl who's singing. Both of the two girls are lovely and I don't think there'll be any "scars" left for the singing girl. If you look it from another perspective, we have two popular lovely angels now instead of just one.
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This sham just serves to underline that the competition for each host-nation to outdo the last is fatuous, monstrously expensive and a waste of resources.
As Athens did so well with their Olympic Village etc and the games started in Greece kin antiquity, there is much to be said for their staying there! That would save all this wasteful building and competitive razamataz every 4 years! What is more, the games clould be completely funded internationally.
Let the Olympics be about sport and let the competition be entirely there where it bleongs.
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Some of these bloggers find it absolutely appalling that China would treat 2 young girls like this!
Speaking about a country with the lowest male to female ratio in the world due to the One Child Policy and sex selected abortions, you're shocked the CCP would treat 2 girls like this?
Be grateful these two made it past the second trimester...
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So an entertainment event included pre-recorded and computer-enhanced visuals spliced in to mislead the viewers, and a singer chosen for her looks rather than her voice mimed a song. Isn't that normal Friday evening viewing on British television?
All the Chinese left out was a rigged telephone voting line...
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If you look closely at the whole production you will see that their were lots of 'pre-recordings'. The drummers were mimeing as well, as was the pianoist. The sounds were all pre-recorded and the presentation was only symbolic.
It doesn't take away from the splendid opening, but it is a shame that the 'Opening production' is now more important than the games themselves.
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Dear Chinese friends
I often visit China and stand up for China in debates with my friends, but comments like these make it more difficult. If an article is not 100% praise towards China, then we get 100s of comments complaining about "hate", "anti-China", etc. I know you only get "China is wonderful" stories from your news, do you expect the rest of the world to only praise China all the time?
There is no hate in the articles above, just a few comments to start a debate! Can he not have an opinion? When I visit China the papers are full of anti-West articles, last time I saw a whole series about what some bad British general had done in the 1800s. Didn't bother me too much, guess I'm used to a free media.
Now you're a superpower you're going to have to get used to people expressing views on China and you'll have to become less insecure! Look at the criticism Americans get. It comes with the territory when your country is important in the world. Get used to it, and if you only want one opinion read your own media.
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I don;t remember this much fuss about the Barcelona opening ceremony in '92.
Everyone applauded the moment the archer shot the flaming arrow to 'light' the cauldron; but this was a fake too.
The arrow passed way above the cauldron and sailed out of the stadium; there is amateur footage of this on YouTube from people filming at the back of the stadium. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fca-MbAKOV0 )
It was considered too dangerous to do for real as during practice the arrows bounced out of the cauldron and on to the empty seats that would have been full of spectators in the ceremony, so they faked it with the official camera being placed low down so that the arrow's flight out of the stadium was masked by the cauldron itself. The flame was lit by technicians from a special pyrotechnic effects company right on cue.
Why the fuss now and not then?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
There is a subtle difference between the fake incidents at the Olympics Opening Ceremony and the BBC's fake phone-ins for which they were recently fined 400,000UKP. The Chinese organisers openly admitted the fakes, whereas the BBC fakes were exposed by whistle-blowers and British media watchdog Ofcom.
So who's lyin' and cheatin' then?
These double standards are not good for the image of the BBC in the eyes of the world...but maybe you can fool some of the people some of the time.
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I watched the ceremony and at first I did not realize that the fireworks were CGI .
Even though now I know it, I really have no problems with that, I mean the reasons they gave sound reasonable enough to me, pilot safety and poor visibility. Plus the Chinese authority voluntarily stepped forwward and admitted it is something of a good gesture.
The little girl miming, I think that was cruel to the little girl. But as people suggested it, the Olympic organizer at least still has the heart and got the record straight for that poor little girl. and I think she should be allowed to perform in the closing ceremony.
I am a new member but I do find some comments on this blog quite disturbing, some people here call "fakeries" is part of unique Chinese tradition. I think this is quite rude. I mean the fake products in China is quite the result of low awareness of intellectual properties rights, lax enforcement of the laws and given the size of Chinese population, the amount of rampant piracy from a country that has risen out of the cultural revolution not so long ago is quite expected. I know I certainly won't like it if someone says to me that rampant piracy in part of the British tradition if the UK was in China's position.
I also heard something people here mentioned about save face value something that is quite prevalent in the East Asian culture. I think people forgot that the "save face" value also exists in other parts of the world but in a different forms of words. It is called "image" . I am pretty sure everyone here does care about his/her own image in the community.
I had a chance to actually briefly read through James' blog, I actually find it quite decent. I mean most of his blog is about the bad deeds of the communist party, not the Chinese people. A bad government creates a bad society, not other way round.I think the Chinese people cannot be held liable for all the problems going on in China, it is that communist government that has turned China into a state that is today by all means ie...cultural revolution, Great Leap forward, famine, poverty, corruption, lack of law enforcement....etc......
But I heard that according to a recent BBC survey, the majority of the Chinese people is happy with the way the country is run now, then I guess they really want to leave the past behind.
In the end though, we have to give the credit to the Chinese host for staging such an amazing ceremony for the world to see, they have very good attempt of incorporating many technologies in the show.
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I think you're quite pathetic. This was the greatest olympics opening ever held and you're making a fuss because the chinese superimposed some fireworks and used another girl's voice. And you don't like people who call you biased?!!!
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The Communist Chinese government lies about everything. No "official" statistics about China can be trusted. From the size of their armed forces to the economic and financial data about the country, they are all full of fabrication to con the world.
Yet, governments all round the world let this charade happen, and continue to let billions to be invested in a country where the government is completly opaque in its dealing and not the least bit accountable to its people or to the world.
At no other time did we have a totalitarian regime that was so wealthy and powerful.
Why would the Chinese government ever want to reform and treat their citizens well, when billions of dollars are being pumped into China as a "reward" for their behaviour?
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My wife and I spotted the fireworks as computer generated straight away and it was blazingly obvious the little girl wasn't signing live, although its a shame to hear appearance was the reason for keeping the actual singer in the shadows. A sign that China has adopted much of the vacuous thinking of the West in recent years.
The drums and the scrolling numbers thereon were clearly computer controlled also - its just a matter of time before we hear of more fakery on this one - although I dare say everyone is being told to clam up now due to the media storm which has been caused by the two fairly obvious fakeries.
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Said that any kind of faking is a sad truth, China and Chinese government is both not the first neither the last to fake reality. What about the countless fakes sold by the "greatest" democracy in the world (the inclusion of the moon landing or not is up to you! :-)~)?
I look forward to the London 2012 Olympics to see some astonishing fakes!
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Double standards are a wonderful thing aren't they. The writer of this piece condemns China for duplicity etc and yet many of the comments on this blog have been deleted by the beeb because they were deemed to have broken the beeb's "rules".
The beeb can either have freedom of the press or it can't. It's attitude of "do as I say not as I do" smacks of communism at it's best.
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I'm sorry but was this not glaringly obvious to anyone else? I picked up on the footprints instantly (much to the disbelief of the people watching it with me), having recently been to Beijing there is no way that would have looked that crisp and perfect. The finish and glow to the buildings was too good (mate thought it was better lighting) no matter how much effore they have fut in in the last month. Not to mention the fact that the chances of there being a perfectly clear night as shown are so slim you would probably have more chance of waking up on the moon.
The young girl was also quite obviously miming which opens up the possibility of anyone doing the real singing, do you really think a young girl (what 9 years old or something) could be held up there on a string smiling her heart out and actually singing live?? Before tmy visit I was under the belief that the chinese were quite naive in general but by the look of this they have shown up the whole lot of you.
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When I'm watching a movie in a theater, I expect that I might see computer effects, lip syncing, whatever. When I am watching a supposedly live performance, I expect to see the real thing. It is a simple matter of trust.
Although someone might have mentioned that the fireworks were prerecorded, many people were deceived, and the organizers are responsible for allowing that to happen. Now I am not sure if I will be watching the real thing during the rest of the Olympics. Will it be someone else's beautiful face edited onto the body of the athlete running around the track?
Maybe they have a entire video archive of supermodels accepting computer images of gold medals, ready to play at the right time for our benefit. And why not put together a bunch of pretty faces holding violins on stage, while playing a recording of the Beijing Philharmonic during the closing ceremony?
If I want to see a pretty face I will go to a beauty pageant. If I want to watch a recording of some fireworks on my TV, I will rent it at the video store. If I am watching an opening ceremony live, I expect that it should be real.
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Blimey, there's a lot of hostility here. I thought Mr Reynolds was merely asking what we thought, rather than stating that China must be supremely evil for faking some footage and having a kid lip-synching.
For what it's worth - the aerial shots were pretty impressive, I've seen far worse computer generated footage. I thought the kid was lip-synching to her own pre-recorded voice. As a show - well, as long as the real artists were credited for it (I assume they hand out a load of bumpf with these things) then it's not really that bad.
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`we were all impressed with the massed performers working in unison. the Japanese press has been discussing a report that 9,000 of those performers were in the military. To me, that takes a bit of the lustre off the precision they exhibited.` #56
Where else do you find 1,000 men used to working in unison, able to perform the same martial arts style (there are many variations in style) and with the time and space to get together and practice the routine to perfection? They must have worked on that for months. I wouldn`t be surprised if the drummers had a military background for the same reason. Watch and learn London.
If the commentators have their way London will rely on rank amateurs with a few hours practice together, a talent-show winner to do the singing and take anyone who turns up as a hostess. (There`ll probably be a quota for those with facial disfigurements and disabilities.) My expectations are not currently high for how GB will present itself to the world.
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To heyone:
"What kind of national interest does this serve anyway? It seems that the authorities are the only ones who think the singer girl is not good enough to sing in the actual ceremony. I cannot see how China's image would be dented if the real singer girl were shown to the world at the stadium."
"national interest" in this case is to get back what Chinese invested for: a good advertisement for the country which helps to get more people come to China and see the real thing. Making a image more attractive will do exactly this. Have you ever watchs any ads in your life?
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I am a Chinese and was watching the opening ceremony with my other Chinese friends with BBC, we were sort of thinking the girl is not singing with her own voice when we saw her lip movements. I am a bit disappointed with that as well, but what I am pretty sure is that if a less attractive girl (the real singer) comes to stage...
not sure about the west media, but most Chinese people will then accuse the officials "why the hell picked an ugly girl out of 1 billion people to show the world?"
I am pretty sure that very event very show, is not flawless, so even everything is real in the Beijing OC, I am sure you hard-working journalist can spot other flaws...
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This is really a shame! I have heard a lot of critics againt this but I don't know why words from your mouth always sound uncomfortable.
Take it easy, it is just a show and the director Zhang Yimou is a film director.
It is also good to know they are revealed but not hidden. It is a progress, isn't it?
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The 'footsteps' video was clearly a simulation, albeit a very good one. I just figured they'd faked it because it was an almost impossible shot to get in one take.
The fireworks obviously happened, they just couldn't shoot it and went for the next best thing. Big deal.
As for the miming: this isn't the first time this has happened - My Fair Lady is a better movie for Audrey Hepburn being cast for her looks and her acting and using somebody else's singing voice. I suspect that journalists are looking for any opportunity to have a pop at China wherever they can.
No matter how despicable the regime is, these games have so far been fantastic, from the incredible opening ceremony to the valiance of the athletes.
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Not in the least bit surprised... China have gone back on nearly all their 'olympic promises' and are using the olympics to demonstrate power over there own people.
Next we'll be hearing that they are sending people into empty stadiums to make it look like they are full..... oh no wait a minute, they already have!
China has completely missed the point of the olympic games and the movement.
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There's no China bashing here - a very neutral article.
To all those Chinese saying things like 'how dare you discuss China in this way, what about Iraq'... hey, feel free to criticise our government as much as you want about Iraq! A million of us went on the streets to do exactly that! At least we're allowed to do that. Many of you bring up Iraq, Afganistan, all the time, no problem.
That doesn't mean we can never discuss China again unless it's about how wonderful and great China is. I know you're used to state controlled media where everything is always perfect in China, wouldn't you prefer an open discussion? And yes, I've spent a lot of time in China, reading the Chinese press and their views on the West - not exactly complimentary either!
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So I guess we have to separate the opening ceremony from the real games. No one in China had any problem with how the female weight-lifter who won China's first Gold medal looked. She had talent and she won the competition, and she was rightly everywhere in the media.
What a shame the Director of the OC couldn't apply the same standards as the real Olympics. If you have the talent to win then you win, and no one cares how you look - least of all the people of China or the world.
This would have been a non-issue if the real singer had sung and no one would have even been concerned how she looks.
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I find it sad that so many people here have forgotten what the Olympics is all about, as 'tripbeetle' said this morning:
'if anything, the Olympics is about what people can actually do'
And that is what got lost when it came to using one little girl to put on show, and using another little girl to sing. That is why it MATTERS, It goes against the whole ethos of what the Olympics is all about. About doing ones best effort.
China could still recover from this and have Yang Peiyi on stage and have her sing at the end ceremony. Doing that would give them more fantastic good coverage in the worlds media than they could ever hope for, but are they savvy enough to realise this?
The foot prints, sorry to those that are upset by them, but they had to be CGI and it did not matter one bit. It was a brilliant idea of a way to open the ceremony for the world television audience.
But using two girls, that was just plain stupid, and now that is all the opening ceremony will ever be remembered for.
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This seems to me to BBC jealousy and anti-Chinese prejudice. They did fire off real footprint fireworks for those there on the ground to see and, since they were unfilmable, inserted a sequence for TV viewers to get the effect of what was actually happening. A little girl mimed and since her voice was not good enough another child's voice was used. Big deal. Will the BBC stop broadcasting its 500 or so movies where actors are dubbed by someone else, or stop playing CDs where voices are enhanced beyond all recognition? It's the modern world, it's technology, well done China for the best opening show ever.
On another point the BBCTV commentary was dreadful. Politics was dragged in at every opportunity - we could hardly hear the music or enjoy the occasion because of BBC waffle about Darfur, Tibet, human rights, factory conditions - when the USA and UK entered I didn't hear anything about Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, Gibralter, Northern Ireland,. the Falklands etc.
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Personally I feel very sorry for both children involved in this situation.
The fireworks....Who cares about the fireworks...are we really that surprised?
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Hollywood invented dubbing long before the games. What is the fuss about?
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Mr. Reynolds: What has happened in the Opening Olympics were real and not staged. Why do you continue to criticize China for so called Lip Synching when Western Magazines and Media Outlets use the same methods to make themselves look good? I was moved by the opening ceremonies as well as I was moved by what I saw when I visited China. The Beijing Olympics is about Sports and Entertainment and I prefer the Beijing Olympics to the mindless ranting of the politicians and entertainers that exist in Washington and Hollywood.
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"It's soooo difficult for some Chinese posters here to admit both things were a mistake. They fell they must come up with all sorts of explanations and justifications, or simply dismiss the problem altogether, for the sake of "saving face". Don't you see how harmful this attitude is for the image of China? Wouldn't it be wiser to say 'sorry, it was a wrong thing to do'? If anything, this would help China save face in this embarassing situation."
Fireworks CG wasn't wrong... they just didn't film it live, but did have the fireworks.
Girl switching was wrong.
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James, you should have told the readers what the national interest the Chinese officials they referred to. If you had read the interview with Chen, you would have known that the reason Lin was picked was not purely because she was prettier, but her inner feelings and the ability to express them. To the Chinese officials, flag raising is a serious matter, the song "ode to the motherland" is like a no.2 national anthem. According to Lin's mother, they were not told that Lin could get on stage until 15 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony. So it was a last minute decision. Of course, like many people, I wish the 2 girls were indeed the same person. But I also hope you can give full picture in future.
Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed with many of your news reports because you see things on the surface. Say for example, the pollution. Why do you just give us the readings, we can easily check these out from observatory websites or from any tourists/residents in Beijing. Have there been any reports on the measures the Chinese Government did in the past 7 years? What efforts have they made in the past 7 years? What are the Government's policy on environmental issues? Do you know that central government accesses the merits of provincial officials by the efforts they make in protecting the environment. I don't live in China, a bit of research and first hand materials tell me that. How come as a reporter, you fail to deliver indepth reports?
I also wondered why so many readers here joked about Chinese fake products when they themselves were buyers of these products. I remember once I went visiting Beijing with an American guy, to my surprise, the moment he got there, he looked for fake Rolex watches for his brother(as a birthday present) and his boss! Please check out your own behaviour before you criticize. No buyers, no existence of these products.
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The flame at the Barcelona Olympics was not actually lit by the flaming arrow that was fired towards it but by a switch so that the organisers could be sure that it would work. Did that "trickery" in any way reduce the impact of the moment? Of course it did not and neither did the little girl miming. It is showbiz and that is all about artifice. It is typical of the British media that they hunt around for something to criticise.
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The fireworks were indeed real. I believe they were enhanced for television because of the difficulty of capturing the fireworks on film. The purpose was to give a similar experience to TV viewers at home who were not fortunate enough to witness the event live.
The Opening Ceremony was witnessed live by thousands of people. Jim Lampley, news caster for the official American coverage of the Olympics, has been to 14 Olympics in the past 28 years. Lampley described the ceremony as the best live performance he has ever witnessed. He went on to say it would remain unsurpassed in his lifetime. His fellow newscaster said that words could not describe the majesty of the event.
In regards to the miming, it was part of the theatrics. Nothing dishonest here, it?s not a singing competition. Yes, the 15,000 live performers were real. They worked very hard and practiced for countless hours to provide a wonderful opening ceremony for the entire world. Kudos and accolades to China, Bravo!
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Yes, we were excited by what turned out to be a fake experience. This is entirely in keeping with the spirit of recent Olympics. Remember Ben Jonson?
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James,
How dare you write anything about China that is not 100% praise and adulation? This once again shows that you and the BBC are biased and hate China.
My friends and I will now have to respond by attacking the BBC and listing everything that is wrong with the British and their history. And mention Iraq (and maybe the Opium wars) again.
If you want to see proper journalism you need to look at the China Daily. They always tell the truth about how perfect everything is and never show bias in any report. You could learn from them.
Shame on you - do you know the real China?
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I want to add, if one had read the interview, one would find that the dilemma the organizer was facing at the time was that Lin could express the feelings of the song on her face better while Yang could sing better. Both have done a good job. It's some of you who used the word "ugly" to refer to Yang.
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What amazes me is that so many posters here are blazee about this and say well we know it hapens all over the place
The major fact is that the Chinese have chosen people who "Look Right" and how different is that from the portrayal on the Aryan master race at the 1936 Olympics,we need to learn the lessons of history
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I'm tired of hearing about this. It was a show, a production. Why are people so shocked? Almost everything on TV is fake, including reality TV shows and most of the news. The production was great. That isn't going to change just because I found out something on TV wasn't real.
On a side note, I do feel bad for the little girl, Yang Peiyi. Children should be supported and not treated in a demeaning manner.
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I do recall that the Americans faked it in the 84 Olympics when they lit the Olympic flame in the stadium when an archer fired a flaming arrow at the Olympic flame and it ignited. The arrow's path was actually no where near the flame, but it was all done with clever camera and viewing angles to make you believe that the flaming arrow lit the flame.
Dishonest and fake? Yes, but who cares, it looked good and that's what it all about.
China did a very good job.
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Why is no one feeling sorry for Lin Miaoke who was told her voice is 'not good enough'? Each girl was simply picked for what she does best.
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I do recall that the Spanish faked it in the 92 Olympics when they lit the Olympic flame in the stadium when an archer fired a flaming arrow at the Olympic flame and it ignited. The arrow's path was actually no where near the flame, but it was all done with clever camera and viewing angles to make you believe that the flaming arrow lit the flame.
Dishonest and fake? Yes, but who cares, it looked good and that's what it all about.
China did a very good job.
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To Tickerpo No.148,
"What Chinese organizer did was in fact like, after tidying up a house for the visitors, feed them "cats food" and then lie to them that what they are eating is, in fact, "Foie Gras"...."
Have the ceremony organizer told you there is no computer-generation and no lip-sync? CG image and lip-syncs are cat food? What's all this resentmet about? You are the one talking about anti-xxx sentiment here!
(ii) What does "the West" got to do with anything you are saying?? Best to keep discussing "facts", not your "anti-West sentiment".
I only tried to invoke some common sense. We are after all, all people. You like to tidy up your house when visitors come, why can't us? You think my argument is somehow anti-west is only because you are anti-Chinese.
And what is 'fact' to you doesn't necessarily is fact to me. One can always spin a wheel to two directions.
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Uh guys, and James, I think you are missing a point here.
The point is not that those have been faked. The point is that BOCOG was brave enough to admit it. Normally, one doesn't tell people that he/she is lying. In contrast, when the concerts on Chinese New Year's Eve use mimed actresses, although it is common knowledge, no one ever admits it.
I think this is a huge step towards media openness and transparency. Media scrutiny has brought light on the backstage of the ceremony, and seeing the consequences, they could choose either not to admit it and turn everything black again (which they may do, seeing as how severe the criticism is) or turn the entire thing transparent (which they are unlikely to do, seeing as how severe the criticism is).
In my opinion, this is progress, and should be mildly encouraged while saying that faking - for whatever purpose - is wrong and we would be happy to see the real thing even if it fails. The Chinese gov't is a child in age (compared to the US gov't and British gov't) and need to be taught how to govern democratically and stabilize the country, instead of whipped into rebellion against the west.
Again, the criticisms from Western media and from the general populace are way too severe. No one likes destructive criticism: "Oh, I gave the Olympics opening ceremony a 9/10, but now that I know it's faked, I give it a 1/10, just because it's faked." This kind of words goes nowhere in resolving China's issues. Instead, it'll prompt the Chinese to think, "hey, that's too harsh! Why do we deserve this kind of comments? We did everything else so well! Maybe we shouldn't have gone open and transparent!"
In conclusion, this is a matter of whether or not the Western media enacts restraint on criticism, and whether or not the Western populace genuinely hope Chinese achieve the democracy and transparency they so desperately need. From the comments on this blog, I see some traces of that, yet it's still not significant enough.
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To plasticjmr78 No.187,
Spot on! No one complains about the fake arrow shooting in Barcelona opening ceremony in '92, but now they all come to bash Chinese doing the same. Double standard again.
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To Kyonko No.227,
thank you for saying this. I can't agree with you more.
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I watched the whole thing live - I never for a moment thought the fireworks were either genuine or live, and I always thought that girl was too cute to be true.
But these cases were just a small percentage of the overall event and don't detract at all from the spendour of the ceremony as a whole.
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I think that the way the Chinese went about with the miming girl is wrong. The kid who was singing looks adorable in the picture and the ceremony would have been as great with her onstage. Disappointing that at such a young age, they impose that sort of thing. Isn't that what messes up kids and teenagers and leads them to anorexia... wanting to be prettier, thinner... At least they came out with the truth and the girl's singing voice is credited. Else it would be like someone taking your own piece of work and claiming it as their own!
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Empty seats? Now they're doing Rent-An-Audience. Why don't they just digitally add the crowds?
Fake singer (Chinese Milli Vanilli), fake fireworks, fake crowds.
If the Chinese ran the London Olympics, the Queen would be replaced with Helen Mirren.
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CG or prerecorded ... it's not a big issue....been done before, ti will be done again.
lip syncing to other's voices... China's merely borrowing a page off the massive billion rupee industry known as Bollywood, imagine the day India gets to host the Olympics... and they're already getting ready for a "test run" of sorts... the opening ceremony of the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 ....
haha, more than one lip syncer... and they'll most likely be adults and Beauty Pageant winners who have swept half a dozen Miss Worlds/Miss Universe contests ... talk about perfect images..
At the least the famed playback singers in India get their slice of fame, so for China to at least acknowledge the name ofthe voice behind the cute singer is kind of okay.
It was a spectacular Opening Ceremony nevertheless and more memorable than most ceremonies in the past.
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I wish all Chinese here could go back to enjoy your work and life and do something that is really good to China and not to care about what others think of you.
BBC doesn't write something on a fair basis and it always will be. What's the point of keeping wasting time arguing in a British forum in English, which is not even your first language? Who will take this credit finally? BBC and Mr James, their forum and this blog is hot!!
Both girls need quietness and peace now! If you guys ARE trying to protect anyone of them. STOP this meaningless argument!
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There are so many passionate opinions already in this blog, I wish mine will avoid this trap.
One may ask why there is always a grandiose public opening ceremony always organized for every Olympiad? And a closing one as well?
Why not a grandiose public opening ceremony for a grand-slam tennis event? Or for a G7 or any other important world summit?
I guess the answer is pretty simple: An Olympiad is supposed to be a celebration of humble young human beings, their most pure and applaudable achievements, perceivable and comprehensible by any other humble human being. Away from any onerous means and scopes, away from any political implications.
An Olympiad is supposed to bring youths together, to make them feel (and through them, to make us feel) that - at least for a short dreamy interval - this world has no borders, that everybody can befriend everybody, that there is no hate, just love, happiness and understanding of each other dreams.
If I?m not wrong in my assumptions, it follows quite naturally that any human being should be allowed to share (at least for the short duration of the Olympiad) this dream.
It is obvious that Yang Peiyi was robbed of this dream. She may not know, she may have been told not to know it this way, but it is obvious that this bunch of GM people that are controlling what is delivered to the world from Beijing Olympics do not give a damn for the Olympic spirit.
Olympics is not a show, as some people want to degrade it. This is not a movie, nor a TV commercial or a political debate. Olympics should be clean, and it is right to cry it out: shame to those that fake and mutilate this spirit.
There is no doubt that there is no limit to the extent to which this fake may go. From the falsification of some fireworks, to the birth certificates of some gymnast. There is no limit, be sure of that. There should be no limit to our expressed disgust with this kind of people!
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Er, James - I'll try to put this as gently as I can: NOBODY REALLY CARES!
You really need to get out more.
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Don't have a problem with the fireworks, partly because there was a fairly good reason for doing it - the fireworks were really going off across the city, but for various reasons they couldn't bring live pictures of them so they prepared some CGI ones instead. But I guess the main reason is that when I was watching the ceremony I thought that it was so obvious that they weren't live pictures (they had that filmic effect applied to them that live pictures don't have, and the fireworks didn't quite look real) that I didn't feel I was being lied to, as it was so plain to see that it wasn't real anyway. I was surprised when these reports came out, as I didn't realise there was anyone who thought they were real.
But the little girl, not quite so good. It's not the most important thing in the world, but I think it's a shame that they didn't let the real singer perform, she looks pretty enough and I'm sure would have loved to have her deserved moment in the limelight.
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Lots of Sinophilic bloggers here trying to excuse this farce by equating it to the fakery of BBC phone-ins. There is a slight difference. I don't remember ANYONE attempting to excuse the BBC's actions, then or now.
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am I allowed to say the following: I feel sorry for those girls and their families? It is not right to put their photos in the headlines together with those not-so-nice 'eye-popping' headlines. whatsoever.
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What?! You mean Kung-fu Panda's voice is actually Jack Black's?
What do you have against Jack's look, or Kung-fu Panda's voice?
And Li-Ning didn't actually fly to light the flame?
IT'S SHOW BUSINESS! DIMWITS!
Next time, maybe we shouldn't pick a winner in the beauty pageants in order not to hurt the feelings of the losers. Also ban all Botox-modified and breast-implanted celebrities from appearing on TV and movies.
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When my mind was in its formative stage during the late 1920s and early 1930s, I observed and was taught that when I was a guest in someone's home I overlooked imperfections and concentrated on the best ? sometimes the single best ? item the home had to offer. Perhaps a fine piece of porcelain; perhaps a fine piece of embroidered silk or a single flower in an heirloom vase. The cracks in the ceiling were overlooked, as was, perhaps, the work furniture or the hard seat.
We were visitors, and our hosts made us welcome by exhibiting their finest possessions. When our visit was finished, we left with memories of how gracious our hosts had been.
In a perfect world automobiles would run from a fuel pill dropped in a tank of water; razors would last for a hundred years; the Titanic would never have sunk.
But this is not a perfect world. China with a population of between 2- and 3 billion people and dozens of diverse ethnic groups is surely aware of this.
Now, with the opportunity of inviting many guests to its home, China has put on display its finest possessions. Visitors to the Olympics, in order to enjoy themselves fully, should as all good visitors must, concentrate on the best, overlook the slight discomforts and psychological imperfections and enjoy the Country as it is presented.
The Olympics used to be for Athletes. As we watch and enjoy their displays of training and skill, let us remember: we are visitors in the home of our hosts. Just as our hosts have obligations, so, as visitors ? in person or through the media ? do we.
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To be honest, I cannot understand the girl's miming either. It seems to me that they discriminate the vocie of a girl on the one hand, and discriminate the appearance of the other girl on the other hand. I don't understand why it is for the interest of Country. It is so shame! It is kind of cheating.
I just guessed maybe bacuase the director of openging ceremony, Zhang Yimou, is a movie director. He may think the ceremony as a art, or more like a movie. All he has done is just for a perfect show. In this sense, I can understand the fake "footprint" fireworks, it just helps to highlight the effect of art.
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honestly I am ok with faking of the singer and to some extend the fireworks.
It is the explanation that it was for national interest that gets me most. what a nation it is to have its interests dependent on deceiving.
huge disappoinment
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Doesn't anyone else really see the broader picture? Yet again a female (and a very very young one) is told right in her face that what talent she has is far far less important than what she looks like. And that decision on the 'cuteness' factor was made - I'm willing to bet money on this - by a bunch of middle aged men.
And we wonder why women grow up the way they do?
Give up striving for anything serious Girlies, and head straight for the plastic surgeon. It's all that really counts. Even in a Communist country. And the earlier you learn that the better.
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hi...i have read all your blogs about China.I don't think you know China quite well,though you may have stayed in China for a while.Every Country has its own way to run .This is just China's way and it turns out effective.it seems that you only find fault in everything that china has done.pretend you are a chinese citizen and mix yourself in the daily life in china. and you will find that the way that the government adopts to run the country in this partictular state of time functions well!
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The cute little girl who did the real singing did not think it was a big deal and did not feel hurt in any way until the western media dig it up and made the mole hill into a mountain. I don't, for one second, believe the Olympic organizer in Beijing used the word "ugly" to describe her. The 'negative' people here on James blog did it.
Talking about who's hurting the little girl, go look into the mirror.
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Personally, I resent the ?scientific? measurement of beauty. I do understand with a large population, a criteria is needed for selecting candidates for just about everything, from jobs to hostesses. But using appearances as a criteria and bluntly advertise it on the most watched/anticipated event by the Chinese is simplify wrong and unfair to the majority of the Chinese female. Ideally, beauty should project health, confidence, diligence, talent and kindness. If the French can ban the ?skinny? models, the Chinese can do the same with the ?eye measurement?. Please turn the ?beauty? standard back to the individual preference and leave children out of it.
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Who really cares!!! As long as u enjoyed it I don't see why u should come complaining now just coz the Chinese decided to tell u how they did it.
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it means we're doing what the west has been doing...lip sync is not a Chinese creation and I really don;t see what's the big deal if they want to do so.
Miming is often used during large audience performance...for any number of reasons.
Even your BBC site called the real singer "chubby face with crooked teeth"...so what's wrong with substituting a bteer looking face??
As to the criteria of hiring...China is not pretending to be something it's not. People judge on 1st impression and that's why appearances are important. It's included in most job postings...it's a cultural difference; not another occasion for you to pretend to be better
people are complaining about anything they can find...really...it's getting annoying.
If you whole goal was to put China down with your snooty comments then you really don;t need to be in CHina. Go back to London and stay there
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Are you daft? If you watch the American NBC broadcast, even the announcers seem to know beforehand that the fireworks footprints segment is animated. Maybe you didn't get the memo?
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Yeah, I'll have to file this under the big fat 'WHO CARES' column. I don't know if the media is blowing these things out of proportion or not. I've only seen the reports (which they have a right to report), not any debates.
Strangely enough, I thought these to be a very 'Western' things to do. With technology these days there is a lot of faking going on and everyone is getting on the train. I'm not troubled at all by these events. Or should I say, I have the same opinion of this as I do with any thing that gets faked. It should be real and done in a truthful manner. But people mime songs more often these days and I don't think it's a China centric thing. It's been experienced in other places.
As for the girl not being pretty enough, how is our global society any different? Ask anyone who's working with Ad's or works in promotion. Are they looking to higher ugly people? We'll mask the fact by claiming they didn't meet the requirements, or that they lacked the knowledge or had a bad attitude. But as much as we don't want to admit it, beauty can play a big part in who gets chosen for what and who gets better job offers. The only difference I see is that the directors came out and admitted it. I guess they didn't have the advantage of American Idol, so they could weed out the ugly people earlier on.
And can anyone confirm for me, do they really sing at the Superbowl Halftime show? I've been under the impression this stopped a long time ago.
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Do they know that's what "PERFECT" means in China?
Goodness mee, I'll never be picked.
So, no wonder all the leaders will have the perfect eye length and muscles during the whothehellknowswhen election. Yum! dreaming of that.
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Wow... the number of replies to this post! Personally, I knew that those shots were either filmed before or created through CGI because there was no way a helicoptor could fly that fast. Besides, the footprints as said by many other comments WERE real! Its just that whatever was shown on TV were the CGI because it would be impossible for the real thing to be captured on camera. So I don't see why everybody is complaining SO MUCH about it?!
The matter about Lin Miaoke and Yan Peiyi is quite upsetting however. But did nobody else think that was pretty obvious that she was at least lip syncing? But then again, which other country wouldn't look for a pretty girl to sing?
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After the opening celebration, some Chinese media said that the celebration only had focused on the ?past? of China. Actually, they did promote the ?current? Chinese culture that is ?COPY?. However, it is unbelievable they can make a ?COPY? at Olympia and use kids to ?COPY?. This is the first time for me to feel that I am afraid to tell people that I am a Chinese.
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You guys in the cheap seats at home saw a TV show, you did not pay to see the real thing live in the Olympic stadium.
Look at it like this, do you want to see a good show or a so-so show. What if they didn't show you the footprints at all. Will you be happy than?
Is a magic trick real or not?
After seeing a magic trick, do you want to know how it was done?
If they show you how fake it was, will you show respect or disapointment?
And the two girls are stars now, one did the singing and the other did the show. It would be like a performance done with recorded music.
These things were just a part of a show, it weren't the main show. It's not like a pimple on your face but a pimple on your butt.
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"the candidates who had the best chance of getting picked should have a face in which "eye length is three-tenths of the face". (I'm not sure how this was measured)."
I strongly suspect there might have been a tape measure involved.
Oh, the depravity!
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I am quite disappointed by the miming revelation!
Yet at the same time, I perceive this as a larger issue of achieving beauty and perfection. Just over a century ago, East Asian countries had their own standard of beauty. However, modernization introduced the new concept of beauty: the European standard. We see this throughout China, Korea, and Japan, where women constantly strive to modify their faces and bodies to match the European features through any means possible (how many Korean celebrities haven't had some kind of plastic surgery?).
I have seen it way too many times: White Americans and Europeans making insulting remarks and gestures about Asian features (e.g. slanty eyes and low-set nose). That is exactly the reason why the organizing committee chose female medal presenters to look more "European", so Westerners won't poke fun at Asians' faces.
I think the real singer is very cute and extremely talented. But I don't think Chinese people knows that Westerners think the real singer is cute, as the Chinese are constantly being degraded for their more "traditional" features.
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I really find it pathetic jouranlism that you are critical of China about the play back situation.
It is a production and the producer uses any ameans necessary to make the show more likeable.
We are so pathetic that we are taking about Chinese alleged deception at Olympics while forgetting about the greatest lie of WMD
I strongly suggest that you go back to school and study about production techniques.
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Simply reading the article on the BBC that states that China defends it's miming, especially by expunging and censoring almost all information about the miming and footprint incidents, simply shows how little China has changed.
Crushing dissent and denying past errors and mistakes is definitely not the hallmark of a country moving towards democracy.
True that no country in the world is without a blemish to its name but simply lashing back at others for their criticisms will not improve China.
If China did not have the reflex to deny all negative comments of China from others, it is not unlikely likely that it would be a much better country and held in greater esteem than it is at present.
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If I had a marvelous voice but not so good-looking, I would have been proud to sing to a couple of billions people without showing myself. I would not have felt bad or cheated at all because I would think that billions of people had admired my talent.
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James,
By the way, when you interviewed Deng Yaping, the Table-Tennis-Greatest-Turned-Cambridge-Scholar, did you ask or did she mention that, how many of her champions were because her teammates were forced to lose when compete against her, in the name of national interest? Just like the faked Olympic girl? We in China all know it. But very few of us believe it's wrong.
Thanks for your blogs. I enjoyed it.
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It seems that many people posting here are missing some important points.
First, the article in question is merely an article, designed to generate both interest and reaction. It has achieved both. Journalism is to convey fact. Articles such as these are opinion pieces, and should be accepted as such. The dangers of believing that this is China bashing fall into the realm of political correctness where it is no longer allowable to pass comment or observe failings. We will create more problems globally by simply allowing everything to pass because of desire to not offend.
Sports and politics do mix, regardless of whether or not they should. Therefore, there is not really an issue with mentioning China's verifiable human rights record, however, only when appropriate. No nation is perfect, but some are more imperfect than others.
Some people have, quite rightly, noted a parallel between the proposed creation of a super-race in the 1930s and the homogenous 'perfect' face that China wants to portray to the world. They are poles apart in some ways, but eerily similar in others.
The opening ceremony was spectacular, but flawed, a reflection on their (and everyone else's) society and structure.
We can only hope that China is a great nation in transition, and that freedoms are being won in a slow evolution as opposed to a fast revolution - something the Chinese know the cost of first hand.
One thing we can be certain of is that the 2012 ceremony will be flawed, and thank goodness we know that and can accept it, even embrace it. It will also be multi-cultural. There will be no "perfect face" for Britain. The UK has evolved relatively rapidly in some respects. It has brought with it many problems, and many of these we simply sweep under the rug. We need to address our own issues, accept them, and walk hand-in-hand with nations that have other issues we can help with.
Fireworks and miming are trivial. Control of a population is not.
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bighullaboo:
"Er, James - I'll try to put this as gently as I can: NOBODY REALLY CARES!"
Judging from the sheer number of comments. I would say that you're wrong: people care.
Now the issues,
1. Fake firework footsteps:
As many have mentioned above, I was not under the impression that those were real when watching NBC. However, this could be because NBC did not broadcast the Opening Ceremony live like the rest of the world, so had some after-the-fact knowledge. I'm not particularly bothered by this seeing as the fireworks did go off, but we were just shown enhanced versions on TV .
2. Selecting hostesses:
As someone mentioned already, China is not a politically correct culture (yet), and there's pretty tough competition. In the States, girls are expected to be told that they're cute or pretty even if they aren't by conventional standards; not true in China. Of course it hurts for a woman to be told that she is ugly, but I don't think there is the same level of awareness or expectation of how sensitive girls may be when being told that. There is also a huge obsession with beauty, but at the same time I think beauty is perceived to be ONLY skin deep and there isn't as much "inner beauty" humba jumba being part of the physical beauty equation as in the States.
3. The two girls:
This kind of goes with the above, but it is much more heart wrenching because it involves little kids. I can't say that I am shocked, but I am dissapointed that the obsession with appearances has to affect kids this young. I can understand why the decision was made by organizers and in the cultural context (where judgement of beauty is made rather publicly and bluntly; I have been told everytime I visit my relatives that I'm fat and not very attractive but that's okay because I study hard); however, I don't agree with it. Besides, I think all kids are cute regardless of whether they look "perfect" or not.
I have to say that I am puzzled by how many people have defended the decision. Personally I feel it was unfortunate but understandable. BUT I don't think that makes it defendable or excusable. I think too many of us (Chinese) have a knee-jerk reaction to Western reporting because it IS biased a lot of times, and it IS frustrating to be dismissed as commie brainwashed little peeps whose opinions don't matter because we're only capable of spitting out commie propaganda. I often find myself on the defending China end of a conversation and overcome with desires to strangle my debators. But that doesn't mean that everything reported about China is unfounded, and that we should dole out denial to quash the voices of the Western media.
Is it true that the West LOVES to dig up scum on China, wave her dirty laundry in the air, report everything with a negative slant? Probably, but it's also true that they probably didn't have to dig very deep. Too many Chinese people use excuses to defend China, which was fine when we were the underdog, but now that we're giants again, it's time to throw off the underdog mentality and take some responsibility. If we don't want other countries to badmouth us, we should probably make sure there isn't much to badmouth about.
For example, take air pollution. It's true that China has a huge population, is still in the developing phase, and deserves some sympathy and understanding from the rest of the world. But I think that we should use that argument not as an excuse but a rallying call to action to research, invest in, and improve efficient and enviormentally friendly solutions. Japan was able to turn its disadvantage (limited natural resources and land mass) into a technological powerhouse; South Korea, similarly restricted, also developed a powerful modern economy. China and Chinese people should not hide behind disadvantages but use them to fuel determination and improvement. I think it is a really fine line between making excuses and rationally defending the interests of your country. The youths of today's China should reconsider the meaning of being a patriot versus a nationalist. We should proudly defend our country's honor but not be blind to our own failings. A true patriot resolves to better his/her country, not to sink it into denial.
That's a long detour, so back to the question of beauty. In the last couple of decades, image and appearance has become an obsession in China as personal luxuries and market competition took over. This is not just a problem that affects the government. In fact, I think it probably affects life in the urban centers and the private sector much more than it affects the government. This is a social problem, and therefore, it is even more unforgivable that the government (which is SUPPOSED to be the moral, political and ideological center) condones and even encourages it (don't even get me started on the superstitious number 8 and the revival of Confucianism). Although we can respect and appreciate personal style and aesthetics, a mob obsession with beauty and wealth (name brands, skin whitening products, barbie photo shots, etc) is not healthy and has (in my opinion) revived a lot of sexist and ageist expectations that were buried out of sight in the more rigid and un-individualistic Communist (like it or not) era. I have for years heard of the emergence of blatant discrimination (now the norm) based on age and appearance in not just the service sector but many other industries as well, which at least my parents and their friends swear did not happen when they were growing up in the 50's and early 60's. We shouldn't be defending this decision to substitute a face for a talented and darling little girl because it is socially, and entertainment-ly acceptable. If the decision doesn't bother you too much or seems trivial, and you choose to ignore the issue (by not wasting your time commenting for example, ahem), that's okay, but there's no reason for defending something obviously unfair and upsetting just because it's entertainment, because other people do it, or because it is 'culturally' acceptable.
That being said, I am dissapointed in Jame's blog. Not in it's negativity, I don't think it's intentionally or particularly nasty and am not surprised by the bias. But I do feel that you haven't really brought fresh perspective. It's a blog; I don't expect it to be neutral or objective but I do expect it to be more personal. Tell us more about the people you stay with, your translators, what you do in your free time (or maybe that you don't have any). How's the nightlife? How's the daylife? Tell us about the people you interview, and not just the political part of what they have to say. Tell us about your trials of adjusting to life in China (some funny anecdotes perhaps). I mean seriously James, most of the things you write about is covered in the news already. Too many times I skim through your blog entry or jump straight to the comments.
Whew, please forgive me for going way off topic.
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On the broadcast of the Opening Ceremony in the US, the announcers explained that the fireworks weren't "real."
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One additional -and relatively brief (for a change) - comment on this thread:
Mr. Reynolds, and other writers such as myself, are fortunate that we are able to express our views, opinions and observations freely, unlike those nations - only one of which is China - where freedom of the press and freedom of opinion are goals people can only dream of and indeed give their lives for. It is not mere coincidence that all details of the fireworks/perfect face of China debate have been removed from Chinese media outlets, adding more credence to the initial need for Mr. Reynolds' article and opinions.
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This latest article from Mr. Reynolds highlights the rather 'Public School' level of journalism at the BBC. It even goes beyond his ridiculous air quality measurement 'sketch' at a Beijing construction site! Please give him some 'real' assignments.
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The opening ceremony was touted 'the best ever'. The generated fireworks didn't really bother me. It went along the same line of the same old visual trickery that had been done before, even by the West. As for the miming fiasco, I was dissapointed (but not surprised) when I heard that Yang was actually the one singing the "Ode to the Motherland", but she could not perform because she was too 'ugly'.
But a closer reading to Mr. Chen's comments revealed that the reason Lin was chosen was not only because of her 'cuteness', but also because she performed better (she was able to express the overall feeling of the song better than Yang could apparently, at least that's what they said). Well, take it as what you will, but if we choose to look at it as an effort to combine the best 'performance' (not just because Lin was 'prettier') with the best 'voice', I don't really see anything wrong with it.
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Believe me I am too furies to politicize it. My heart goes to this little innocent
Peiyi, whose voice the China used to enchant the world.. I am deeply sorry for her.
This incident is going to destroy her and the people in the u.s.a. are aghast.
On what right and justification can they mess up the life of this defend less innocent girl in front of the whole world. It is moral against ego. If this has happened in the United State of America, many heads will roll! What a way to show to the whole World the hidden side of the Communist regime .
C.tashi
N.Y.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Whoever made the decision to let two girls "perform" the singing should be exposed and shamed.
But it's unlikely becasue from what I read in Chinese media, it was done by members from the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, the most powerful governing body in China.
Now any posts relating to this con are immediately deleted from China's forums and blogs.
Chinese government has won the most deserved gold medal for con in Beijing Olympics.
Congratulations!
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1. Overall, it was still a very good show and a good message.
2. I don't care about the footprints either. Hello?... Not news worthy!
3. Normally, the little girl miming thing would not be AS big a deal. But what is truly sad about this particular situation was that the beautiful message China was trying to convey in their Olympic ceremony did not match their actions when it came to these little girls.
Looks are a big thing to girls, and for her country's leaders to tell her that she's not good looking, I'm sure was hard for her, especially at that age.
However, I do think the media and some people are making it more than what it is.
Hey, it's not the end of the world, but when I saw China's opening ceremony, I REALLY did want to believe in that China. The China that cared about children and true beauty. But when I heard about these girls, the magic kind of faded. China's message rang a little more hollow. But maybe I'm just naive.
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So after five days, james reynolds sprang into action when he felt that at last he has found something negative about the Olympics opening ceremony.
Well, I too found something interesting on http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Forums/viewthread/7441/ which reveals that the BBC has recently been fined 400,000 pounds by media watchdog Ofcom for misleading its audiences by 'faking' phone-ins.
Viewers were urged to call some BBC programmes after contestants had already been chosen. Other shows had been pre-recorded, so nobody could win apparently 'live' competitions.
In July 2007, Ofcom fined the BBC 50,000 pounds after children's programme Blue Peter falsified the results of a contest during a live show.
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James Reynolds,
I don't understand why you're so critical with China. You have written such articles about China times and times again. It seems to me that you cannot wait to shame the Chinese at every opportunity.
You as a British, let me remind you of the fact that London was awarded to host the Olympic Games in 1948 despite a global war that had almost bankrupted the empire?s coffer and no one made any noise about millions of people being colonised by the British then.
I wonder sometimes those self-righteous campaigners (especially British) of Free Tibet, Free China or Free Whatever know what they are doing.
Let me remind you also that with 2012 Olympics to be held in London, i would rather compliment the Chinese for doing such a wonderful job for Olympics (at least so far) as i don't think London has the same amount of resources to match the Chinese. Otherwise it will be seen as jeolousy and loser!!
What UK has done or rather messed with for lying about the reason to attack Iraq didn't deserve London to be the next host either if you want to talk about "Free World".
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It's almost as if a few people is trying hard to find a flaw in the Beijing Olympics. So what, about the fireworks and so what about the mime? There's enough flaws around the world we could be scrutinising more...for instance, the Iraq war.
Let's for once forget those flaws and indiffirences and enjoy the game. There's enough things like the war to moan about.
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Am I the only real person that is fed up being deceived every time I switch on the television? Don't tell me its all theatre and so its OK. There is theatre and drama, its fiction, add as many special effects as you like, use lookers and dub in someone who sounds good. Then there's real life coverage of actual events, either show me or don't bother. Don't make it up and pretend like its all OK because its television.
Anyway, nice to see lots of ex-pat Chinese on here, and perhaps some locals too if they lifted the censorship for a while. Good to see most of you are repeating your government's propaganda so the rest of us can learn :)
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i feel in this text, there is one sided view.
we must know that, there did have real 29 footprint fireworks on that night.
it was just that the tv transferer used a premade footage for live. this is for safty reasons.
it is completely different between having the real ones and no one is real.
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I think the idea of using firework footsteps in opening ceremony is great! It doesn't matter real ones or computerised ones.
I dont like a child miming to another girl. However, I wont be that angry at this "manipulation". I can accept one kind of lies: the lie for good...such as Santa Claus and tooth fairy.
God blessing.
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Do you know Yang's name is in the playbill of the opening ceremony? She was listed in the first place and Lin was listed in the second place in the playbill . Who told you the singer on the scene was Lin ? Nobody said that.
And China revealed the truth by themselves, they needn't to hide anything. So what's your purpose? What do you want to say?
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If this is in USA the whole organizing committe will be sued against descrimination. unfortunately, that is in communist country even though they adopted modern economy. She has such a good vioce and prety face why they need more pretty face? just to fool the world.. they are good at those. look at their own leaders.. what they look like.. they should be very handsome and beautiful since they are meeting every leaders of the world. this send a wrong signal to many girls out there.. its a like a bully. some educated youth are also with their communist regime saying this for national interest... can't buy it anymore.. this ridiculious.
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The fireworks footsteps were known to be staged by American media. Here, they were compared to CGI and 'cinematic' by the presenters. That was some big secret.
The miming is a lot more offensive. And loathsome how so many East Asians want to make their peoples appear European (what do you think the nose width and face length and so on was about? Be honest.).
They should have shown the girl with the talent--the singer. The audience was listening to the Chinese national anthem, not looking at a beauty contest. The credit should go to the girl with the voice.
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The real question is why the US newtworks knew and informed viewers that the footprint fireworks were CGs beforehand and the BBC failed to do so.
Hey I noticed it for a moment when watching but couldn't careless, it was that good. The miming? I am ok with it as long as the other child gets her credit, not a big deal.
However this endless negative snipping masks some of the real achievements made, where a lot of planning and careful thoughts have been applied. The venues for example, some of them were built on university campuses will continue to be used long after the games have finished (Hello Athens 2004, hello London Millennium Dome). And yes the Beijing Olympics is ?green? (too politically incorrect ?)
More than 25% of the energy need is met by renewable sources.
There is a wind farm with 43 wind turbines.
The Bird?s Nest Stadium has 130kw solar panels installed.
66kw BIPV solar lampposts light the Olympic Boulevard .
The Olympic village entire hot water is heated by solar hot water heaters.
The Aquatics Center aka Water Cube was built to collect and recycle 140,000 tons of rainwater per year.
More than 500,000 trees were planted.
A fleet of Olympic transport powered by an assortment of hydrogen fuel cells, electric and hybrid vehicles.
The Qingdao Olympic Sailing centre uses solar power to provide air-conditioning as well as heating and hot water all year round. Seawater-source heat pump technology is also deployed.
Hope London 2012 will do the same.
Green data sourced from www.renewableenergyworld.com
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londonlurker (5) wrote:
"Not sure about the west though. Will you guys show how dirty your houses are when people come to visit?"
Of course most Westerners would tidy up their houses (just as China put in considerable effort to build fancy buildings and clear the pollution). Westerners wouldn't, however, hide their 'ugly' family members in some room so their guests don't see them, even if they are otherwise engaging. At least hopefully that would be the case.
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I feel very very sorry for both of the girls.
I was once in a similiar situation many years ago. I was not selected by my local government to perform Tai Chi on an important local event because I was told that I was a little bit fat despite the fact that I was one of the best performers and had practised for years. I was very hurt and became unconfident since then. My parents did a good job to comfort me, however, the scar is there and will never fade away.
Why beauty seems more important than anything else?
Looking at the criteria of choosing the hostesses, can't help wonder "is it one world, one dream and one beauty standard?"
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I work in New Zealand. I asked my colleagues on Monday:" did you watch the opening ceremony?" some of them said:"no, it was too late, started from mid night."
Yesterday, the ones that did not watch the ceremony are shouting in the office:" the opening ceremony is fake! the fireworks and the girl was miming!"
so...James, did the whole opening ceremony disappointed you?
let me know.
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This is the reality of China in addition to suppression of its own people and most importantly voilating basic human right. What about the forty Billion dollars they can spend where its own people struggle in daily basis. China opens door to the Beijing Olympic where situation in Tibet get worse!!!
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I still couldn't understand the logic of this. What does this have to do with 'national interest' as explained by the Chinese officials. I don't realize that China's 'national interest' is so fragile that it could be shaken by simply showing the face of the singer.
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The BBC has been given China no room to breath during the build up to this event. I am very disappoint at some of the quality and accuracy of your recent contents on Olympics.
Re: "Faked" Fireworks
Choose your words carefully, there is a difference between fake and CGI, if you call every CGI "fake" then why don't you go sue Hollywood for all the films you have watched since the invention of semi-conductors.
There was enough spetacular firework displays that night to completely over shadow negative views like these. As said by others, BBC's record on keeping a fair and balanced view on China has been disappointing as always, this is not new.
Re: Cute girl
Come on, did anyone watch that "Body model" program on TV the other night, super celebs like Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera use other models body in their music videos, because their own figures were not "perfect" for the shoot. Super model Kate Moss used a "Hand model" in her recent advert because her fingers aren't long enough for crying out loud!
Big deal? I think not. 99.99% of the people enojoyed it, wow'ed it, it's that 0.01% of the world popular who can't take the fact that, China, a coming world superpower is breathing down your neck.
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Such a shame! I don't whose decision it is to replace the single, it is really stupid and disgusting.
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AAAAAGH
I can't stand it. Do we really have to sink to the level of comparing the sizes of our Olympic Opening Ceremonies?
Hopefully London will have 1 damp firework, a dance or two in the rain and then the sports can begin. Get things slightly into perspective again.
And all this East/West stuff. Look I know that a bit of national pride is great (a bit mind) - but we are one planet, just the one amongst billions and billions of stars, that has life. Can't we all try getting along just bit?
Er - isn't that what the Olympics are all about?
And I do feel very sorry for Yang Peiyi.
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The modern Olympics is mostly a display by governments - at the expense of taxpayers - of nationalism. The fakery by the Chinese substituting a facially very attractive young girl who lipsynced singing at the opening ceremony actually done by a less pretty lass is more of the same. This idea held by so many, especially those in governments or groups funded by them, that there is some national image that must be portrayed using the people that live in a particular region is at the bottom of it. I view this as part of the drive by governments to continue and even increase the sense of "us" vs "them". Almost totally lost is the fact that each person is an individual and simply because someone happens to have been born in a particular area, or even chose to move into it, does not mean that s/he places the same priority on various aspects of life and reality in general. Striving to "put our country's interest first" as the Chinese Olympic committee has done in this charade makes it clear that the individual is merely a tool for the government.
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hi there, i think a journalist's job is to produce full analysis of the situations based on facts on both sides, and you should never use your own judgement to influnence the readers. any biased tone is not allowed. unfortunately, i can only see one side and a biased tone from this report.
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In the final analysis the true Hero of the Beijing Olympics will be Yang Peiyi, the real little girl with the voice of an Angel.She represents all the real and true and imperfect peoples of all the world.
It does not surprise me that this was a fake performance.China thinks it can fool the rest of the world like this,but the world knows
that the leaders and great powers in China
lie about almost everything.Any country on Earth stupid enough to say the Dalai Lama is a terrorist,and then expect anyone to believe that, really has no understanding of just how transparent it is to the rest of the world.
I am still trying to understand how China got the Olympics in the first place! Until I die I will love and respect the Yang Peiyis of this world and detest the artificial and the fake.
China you are fooling no one!
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There is a different value between Chinese and the west. Chinese emphasize the group value, individual won't mind to co-op to make things better. The west emphasize on individual, when you sing, you want to be seen, and to be credit. As Yang Peiyi and her father said, there were so many people work hard behind the Olympic theme, they wouldn't worry about not perform on the stage.
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James,
I noticed the fake aerial shot on the spot. It is not the first time the Chinese television did this sort of things (It happens almost every year during the Chinese new year's gala from CCTV) and won't be the last time.
I felt sorry for these two girls, Lin Miao ke and Yang Peiyi, not because of the story you described but the song 'Ode to the Motherland' that they were forced to perform.
See the full lyric here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing_a_Song_of_Praise_to_the_Motherland
The unsung 5th verse goes as the following:
The sun is rising in the east;
Our People's Republic is maturing;
Our leader, Mao Zedong,
Guides the way forward.
Our lives are improving every day,
Our future is full of promise.
Get the picture? The 29th Olympics Game of Modern age inaugurated with a song composed to praise Mao Zedong, the most brutal roller of the Chinese history.
I also felt sorry for these kids dressed nicely in the shining ethnic minority cloths, holding the five star flag. (One needs to know, the biggest star in the Chinese national flag symbolizes the Chinese Communist Party.) Innocence gone during that instance.
I believe I will live to see the change of our national flag.
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What opening ceremony?
If I read the figures correctly, I was part of the serious majority (>75%) of the UK population) who, like me, find it all a big yawn and passed the 'opportunity'.
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I am an American soprano of Chinese descent based in Paris, and though I was at first rather taken aback by the "two for the price of one" miming, I now feel somewhat differently.
As a singer, obviously I would never agree to let someone else get the credit for my hard work. But the little girl here, the real singer, had the great misfortune to learn that she was not "fit to be seen", as it were, undoubtedly on account of her crooked teeth, because otherwise she really looks very cute and sweet - and far more 'natural' than the mimer when their photos are displayed side-by-side.
But let's try to imagine the reaction of the millions of people who watched the opening ceremony, if they saw the real singer Yang Peiyi instead: "What a pity, such lovely singing by such a cute little girl, but what horrible teeth!" And that, unfortunately, probably would have done far more lasting harm on her than featuring only her voice, now that she had been made aware of her 'unpresentability'...
What's more, I also had crooked teeth as a child though not half as pronounced as Yang Peiyi's. And instead of getting compliments for my "beautiful teeth" even now, I would have been extremely self-conscious - undoubtedly also to the detriment of my career-development - had I not had orthodontics at age 15, late as it was.
So, how about if the Chinese government/Olympic Commitee paid for Yang Peiyi's orthodontics, as just compensation for her tremendous contribution to Beijing 2008?!
(The other girl has already had her share of compensation as in "overnight stardom", so we'll just leave her out of this, shall we?)
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Was I the only one who actually thought she was miming when watching the ceremony then? It astounds me that a country brought up on the now-defunct Top of the Pops cannot spot a miming singer when they see one, even in a foreign language. The signs are so obvious!
Yes, they should have used the real singer, who has a great voice as far as I can tell. It is not a defence to say that "everyone else does it" as some of the comments have suggested.
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The real shame is that we in the developed world come across as so shallow that the Chinese believed that it was necessary to present a pretty face.
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Like many, I was disappointed. I feel really bad for the the little girl Yang Peiyi, and I do not understand where is the national pride in faking something. How is the national pride now? huh?
I think, what the organizer should do is to bring Yang Peiyi on the closing day and let her sing a song live. The should also bring Lin Miaoke - she should not be blamed for what the organizer did.
Something like this or even better (I am not that creative) involving Yang Peiyi and Lin Miaoke would improve sporting spirit Olympic deserves and treat the scares left by the "not-so-nationalist" organizers!
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To be fair to the performing girl (Lin Miaoke), she actually didn't mime. She really sang, not knowing that her voice is replaced by another's on TV. And the other girl, Yang, she was never supposed to go to the stage. That's why she was actually happy that her voice was used.
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footprints ... big deal.
girl singing... the real singer's name is on the list officially(above the girl performing on the stage).
like the old chinese motto: ?????,?????
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and by the way... at the olympic game in barcelona, did they really shot to fire on the torch? u r fooled
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If a little girl with a fabulous voice is denied a place on the satge, what does that say about attitudes to those who are crippled or disfigured?
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Both fakeing aspects show how importnat the right image is, and the concern over image is very very typicall of asian countries. Image is very very important, and any individuals rights, hopes, desires, dreams, are completely subbordinate to the requirements of the government. You are there to serve your country, nothing else matters. In Singapore, you migth live in a run down home, but you drive a Merc (with massive import taxes) because that's what people see.
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to demonstrate how trivial this CGI fireworks debate is, british reporter john ray has been roughed up and detained by beijing police in the course of doing his job. it hardly seems likely that the police are a law unto themselves in china. the most plausible scenario is that they are operating under a directive they disrupt, delay and intimidate foreign journalists who attempt to cover "sensitive" issues, and apparently feel free to use physical force to that end.
the protest parks remain empty, journalists aren't allowed near them, and people who apply to protest are apparently just 'dissappearing'. this is of far greater concern to me than a lip-syncing tween, or the startling revalation that BOCOG had measures in place to ensure the opening ceremony came across perfectly on TV.
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Apparently the bit where Li Ning ran round the lip of the stadium was fake too, if you look closely you can see there was a rope and he can't in fact fly!
As for picking the hostesses based on physical criteria do you think it is different anywhere else? Will London 2012 pick cute English girls or go with Sharon and Tracey lookalikes from the Viz comic?
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a few days before, we were complaining about the smogs,and we complained on the fake fireworks. If the fireworks were indeed real and instant,and had it not been pre-made,then I would have a real concern with the true air quality there and after. It was just a show. But,I would like to be foretold of the events.I do not want suprises. And I want to be foretold who is going to win in each events in all games.
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To #228, londonlurker :
When a magician performs a magic, we expect it to be unreal because we see that it?s physically near-impossible or impossible. We don?t feel deceived by the magician.
When the archer in Barcelona lit the cauldron from such a long distance, we all expected it to be unreal as it was physically possible. We didn?t feel deceived.
When the little girl sang, we expected that she did the singing herself, because it would have been easily achievable. Now we feel deceived. When the fireworks were shown on TV, we expected them to be the real thing, because it would have been physically achievable. Now we feel deceived.
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To #63 Krishnamahesh
You are sharp and you are right on it.
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To #25 wonderfulchinese :
The ceremony was an on-stage real-time show, don't try to compare it with a pre-recorded film or CD.
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To #88 rrrrzzzz
OK, China as a host country is in control of turning the traditionally authentic Olympics into a showcase, at least for the opening performances. Just don't forget when atheletes use drugs to boost performance is not allowed. People just assume that the whole Olympics is authentic, inside-out and outside-in, from opening performances to the atheletes' competitions.
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James I think I've really got enough of you, your team and your employer now. I've been following not only your block but BBC for over 8 years now. And I know that you've been waiting for this 'big lie inciden" for a long time.
Excuse me, this is a show and it was the Chinese authority who was first who came up to be honest enough to tell the truth and I don't think there is a cheat here involved. Yes I do feel sorry about the girl, but that's nothing different than whom I felt sorry for who's lost a contest show. This is a opening show and what matters is how the sportsman are enjoying the events.
Many Chinese support our country and want to top the gold medal table. For me, first day I already said' it doesn't really matter. may the best win, but what i fear the most is terrorist attacks + western media.
Yesterday in The Sun Daily (www.the-sun.com.hk) also put this on the headlines and the same pictures posted. The report was long enough through an analysis ; however what is different than your media is that it is unbiased compared to you. It was reporting the whole case in a fair way. And the way your media report it is just like' Gottcha!!!! here we go... a big LIE! a big cheat! excuse me... I think there is a whole concept difference here because for me there is nothing wrong as again it is a show!
There was also an article about how the media responded about this incident. It is just a fact that the western media would not let a single change to make a big fuss out of it , anything that could lead the western population think , o yes, China or its people are a cheat. Excuse me?? For all the hardwork and time we've been spending for this olympics, and you calling us a cheat? What a shame on you James.
When Cooke and Adlington won the gold for Britian, I screamed out and I was truly happy for them. In fact, lots of Hong Kong Chinese were happy for them. For sure narrow minded people like you wouldn't support any chinese in an open minded way.
Claiming that you will not understand our culture because your not Chinese is stupid. But believing that Communism = Evil ; Democracy = Angel is naive. Let sum up, do think more people die under the name of democracy or under the name of Communism for the past 10 years? And lets wake up, do you think that China is still the communism country than it was 30 years ago? It would be stupid if anyone thinks so. Every single chinese knows the fact that China is only communism under its name. Would you believe a communism country will be having the reality of today? I think the truly communism regime is your mind would be only applying on North Korea.
James, again, no country is perfect and nor your country. I am sure more people die under your forces than any other regime /government more in this world for the past 10 years. It really surpirses me that this such a small incident surprises you. It just shows you are like a country boy first time out of town.
I just want to explain to you, the more your media is trying its best to evilish the chinese, the more you will unite the Chinese together. It just doesn't work. We are fully aware how our government is and what their problems are. But your media is ruining the whole party now and trying to make a big fuss out of nothing.
When I was watching the Athens games in London, I could rarely watch any footage about Chinese players. The only footage about a Chinese players it was continously showing was the Chinese gymnastic who fall from the beam. Do I have to go further? Many analysts are saying this is because of jelousy of the western world, and I never believed that. But time after time when you're trying to make a big fuss out of something negative reports.. .come'on...
Your last paragraph about the olympic host
is absolutely ridiculous, too! So so would you choose a tv reporting who has a bad facial look?
What I mostly hate about your reports and makes me feel ill is the wordings you use seems always trying to make every Chinese citizen sounds like a brainwashed fool.
Who is being brainwashed by who? Trust me, a lot of the chinese are having a clearer mind than you realize. At least, we are fully aware that our country are far far away of being a healthy nation. Not unless education, health care , corruption and law are developed well. We are aware of this and we do not need you to put your finger on us.
Did I put a finger on you and asked you hey ! .. why are there so many innocent people being in the middle east being killed and raped by your soldiers? Oh Yes, because we are fighing for democracy and are going to safe them...
Please James, Let me enjoy the olympics for the rest of this week! Give us a break my friend !
Do you know how mad the Chinese are supporting your premierleague teams? And what do we get return from you? Chinese people are much more opened minded than you actually will realize.
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I don't get it? What's the big fuss about? Should they have used real dinosaurs in Jurassic Park? Should Britney Spears be sent to the electric chair?
It was a show. The purpose was to entertain.
Where exactly are the rules for this written down?
To me, this seems like criticism for criticism's sake. James, if your blog is in any way aimed at Chinese people, you're being really rude for no good reason. And if it's aimed at an international audience, then this is just nasty.
Any show is a mixture of reality and illusion.
Come to think of it, what is reality and what is illusion?
After all, it's all maya!
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The western media are acting like judges for sycronised performance of gymastics and divers. What score in total have you given to the organisers so far?
If you say the miming and fireworks have been sexed it up like the Iraqi dossier, so say that.
You reporters can edit your works, so why cannot not the directors do it for the show?
What is the fuss? Just your job to find faults, or make perfection, is it?
Thank the world for giving the Chinese a chance and thank you for making them think how to make it even better.
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To #105 AtlanticWriter
My nightmare is that the big businesses from the West all kowtow to the intrusive controlling authoritarian state, and in turn, force the governments in the West to follow suit. It is already happening.
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To #291 GoodPotatoThing
At least I know you are one genuine poster who expresses true feelings unlike some others who are paid by the system of propaganda.
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To whinejunkie No.317,
"When the archer in Barcelona lit the cauldron from such a long distance, we all expected it to be unreal as it was physically possible. We didn?t feel deceived.
When the little girl sang, we expected that she did the singing herself, because it would have been easily achievable. Now we feel deceived. When the fireworks were shown on TV, we expected them to be the real thing, because it would have been physically achievable. Now we feel deceived."
Shall I say you expected too much? It's a show, but not a magic show. Lip-sync and CG effects are common.
Here comes the double standard again.Because actual arrow shooting is difficult you don't blame them, but I felt deceived. I was hoping it would be really. How hard to shoot an arrow comparing to fireworks forming footprints and smily faces? No one told you it wasn't computer generation anyways.
Here is a quote from 'friends' (a show Chinese knows a lot): "you see how it works is, the part with Dick Clark in Times Square is actually live, but they tape some of the party stuff ahead of time. Yeah, not a lot of people know that." And that was in 1990s. Is this new?
The two-girl thing was a stupid idea, but not unforgivable. Is lip-sync a chinese invention? Tell me honestly.
The problem is that you all fixating on this and tend to overlook other things have been done right. This is unfair. tens of thousand Chinese spent years to prepare the thing to make it great, and now you guys only want to look at two girls.
Chinese was expecting the world would appreciate our hospitality can earn some kindness in return. Now we feel deceived. You guys will never be kind to us.
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I don't think it's a case of "Not quite what we thought", but a confirmation of what we already knew. And since we knew, most of us it would seem were really not that concerned; it was the grand spectacle that we felt was fantastic. It was a show, not a competition, and there's no point getting too exercised about it - it happens all the time.
As it goes, the family of the young girl on the stage have commented to a Chinese news channel that they'll resist any kind of celebrity getting in the way of their daughter's education - since that needs to come first. That, as they say, is real life common sense.
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About 288:
That was NOT some big secret. (Americans were 'told' that the footsteps were staged as the ceremony was being presented; they weren't presented as being 'real').
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A big part of the offensiveness of the miming has to do with them doing this to a child. If they were adults, then that would be irksome, but--as pointed out--something which happens a lot in the West, too. But to do that to a child--that's a completely other thing. To do something such as that (telling a talented child that another child will get the fame and credit for the first child's work/talent because the first child is too homely to represent the home country) is extremely counter [at least American] culture.
------
And bravo. This post has received more responses than the average American blog usually receives (it seems). Over 300.
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About 288:
That was NOT some big secret.
(Americans were 'told' that the footsteps were staged as the ceremony was being presented; they weren't presented as being 'real').
-----
A big part of the offensiveness of the miming has to do with them doing this to a child. If they were adults, then that would be irksome, but--as pointed out--something which happens a lot in the West, too. But to do that to a child--that's a completely other thing. To do something such as that (telling a talented child that another child will get the fame and credit for the first child's work/talent because the first child is too homely to represent the home country) is extremely counter [at least American] culture.
------
And bravo. This post has received more responses than the average American blog usually receives (it seems). Over 300.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
To #303
Did you really watch the opening ceremony and hear what was sung? If you had bothered to check it out yourself and watched the video a few more times (the lyrics were there), you would have known that not a line you posted was sung. Quite the contrary, one finds the lyrics "We love peace, we love our hometown, we are unified and friendly" sung. Another groundless accusations. I'm pretty sick of people who pretend they know something, yet they don't. You seem to have a chinese name, bet you understand chinese, please check things out and be more responsible when you comment. Otherwise, you mislead others and make yourself a fool.
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I was under the impression that it was a BBC reporters job to cover stories in an unbiased way, and in a blog raise interesting questions that arise from them.
While I can see the argument that the 'faking' in the ceremony is relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things, I'd say well done to James in fulfilling the above.
To the Chinese posters who seem to think that westerners cannot make comment due to the war in Iraq or the BBC's faking scandals then unfortunatley you don't understand how our journalists work. They are allowed to have opinions and are expected to report the truth, they are not government employees. Along the same lines, this means that critisicm of a single aspect of China is not criticsim of the whole country.
As for lashing out a 2012 opening ceremony that is still 4 years away - get real!
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To James,
Why held off for so long, if it did puzzle you at the start, why have you never asked Zhang Yimou about this? Did he and his team not give a press conference the next day? Did you not attend? What have you been doing in Beijing? How come it's so hard to find some originality in your reports. Why did you not dig this out but wait until the Chinese authority to reveal things on their own initiative? I expect diligence and an enquiry mind from a journalist.
And to #325, I'm not paid by any system of propaganda.
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Chinese parents should protect their children carefully.
The event of miming during the China's Olympic Openning Ceremony indeed will and is hurting the two little lovely girls who were thought either as poor voice or homely looking, and so one of them can only appear like a dumb and another has no right to expose her face.
Because the Chinese Communist Party is the only leader of China, they should be responsible for it. At the same time, it was revealed by the ceremony music director that it was one of the Politburo members that made this order.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I am not surprised by these revelations, and I suspect there are many more secrets that are being kept. I love the Chinese people but their government is thoroughly corrupt and inhumane.
On a deeper level than the manner in which performances were handled, I wonder what pressure the Chinese athletes are under? Are they threatened in any number of ways if their performances do not reach a certain mark?
The Chinese government can put a nice face on how they host the olympics, but there are serious issues at the core of the country that have not changed at all and are getting worse.
It is for this reason that my heart breaks for the people of this country.
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To #303,
My apology, you did say the 5th verse was unsung, sorry.
But there again, if they wanted to put Mao behind, why did you link Mao in this case? You are still stuck with Mao while the Chinese have moved forward. What made you say the girls were "forced" to perform? Even if they were "forced" as you suggested without grounds, they were "forced" to sing for peace and prosperity. A dream for many people.
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Just to add one more thing, why are different people getting on James about his article?
GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!
He hasn't provided any critical opionion of his own about China. All he's done is bring up a couple of news items for people to debate. As he says in his opening remarks 'What should be make of.....'. It's a question to spark debate, which as we can see from the number of respondents it has. To me, it seems that he's doing a fine job of reporting and bringing debate to the public spectrum.
Has James reported on anything non-factual? Or has he just quoted official documents and quotes made by the officials in charge?
And for those bringing up the BBC 'faking' controversy, save it for that blog, not this one. The BBC has acknowledged that issue, and reported on it themselves on their own website.
So give it a rest already.
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Yeah James did a good job this time and if I were him i will choose this topic as my blog as well.
Look at the total number of comments! 339 so far!
Actually many Chinese do concer about this and don't agree with the way they handle the singing part. about the fire works....I've already changed to other channels when the 29 footprints on TV.
Keep up the good work LIKE THIS!
If that matters I am a patriotic Chinese reader of this blog.
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"To #291 GoodPotatoThing
At least I know you are one genuine poster who expresses true feelings unlike some others who are paid by the system of propaganda."
This comment sums up the problems faced by normal Chinese people who have opposing views, even if slighty sympathetic to their government/problems.
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To those that is saying China is censoring contents that contained information about this miming:
Refer to post #227. What I was afraid of happened: Chinese authority, because they want to save face, censored them all.
So many people jumped on the bandwagon and started harshly and bitterly criticizing China, that the authority regretted making the decision in the first place.
This is negative progress for China, and I think this is what the West wants to see. They want China to continue to be the bullied, the country they can point their fingers at and direct their people's attention to.
Wake up already. Just once... try once praising China for its progress while very gently pointing out areas of improvement. At least, even if the authorities don't improve, they won't go back to the way it was.
Well, the openness was good while it lasted. Too bad the West doesn't want China to be open.
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325. At 09:11am on 14 Aug 2008, lukaigirl wrote:
To #291 GoodPotatoThing
At least I know you are one genuine poster who expresses true feelings unlike some others who are paid by the system of propaganda.
First of all, I would like to say, #291 I'm sorry for your experience and it was really unfortunate and unforgivable to have happened.
However lukaigirl, and many who share your mentality have got it wrong. Just because there are some who back the Chinese government or a particular decision made by the Chinese government doesn't make them paid by the system of propaganda. All people, not just you, are entitled to their opinions, and it is always insulting to be dismissed as propaganda or not genuine. Even IF people are totally, robotically brainwashed, as some would like to believe, they are still entitled to their totally robotically brainwashed propaganda opinions.
Some people preach freedom of thought and expression as basic rights of human beings. In that case, please respect others (even those you don't agree with) exercising those rights. Some people have an automatic response which is," those who think like me are free and are expressing their own thoughts and are untainted by propaganda, and those who don't think like me betray their conscience and are oppressed and censored". How is that simple dismissal unlike censorship? Sure, you aren't censoring a nation of people like a government is capable of doing but once you have an entire community of like minded people you can effectively shut the minority up. This is classic us-verses-them, we-are-right-they-are-wrong, we-know-better-they-don't, mentality that is dangerous and precisely one of the causes of censorship and oppression.
Yes, China has patchy human rights record, and I also don't agree with the decision it made regarding the two girls. But if you feel so strongly about such issues, then please be a bigger person and cease all these accusations and conspiracy theories.
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http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzg2NDc4NDA=.html
Christ, for the 101 times, the footprints fireworks were there, pre-recorded clip
was used only for a better visual effect. Check link above.
And all there artistic arrangements were told by the Chinese organizers, some media took no time to twist the words and to scandalise them.
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For once, I think the decision to remove the story from the Chinese news websites at this stage is correct and nothing but decent. Now we all know the truth, there is no point of retaining the story there longer than necessary for the sake of both girls. Since the break of the story, there have been a lot of harsh criticisms which hurt no one but the girls. If I were Lin, these criticisms would make me feel that I had stolen the glory of the other girl even though I did sing my heart out. Why can't we simply give praise to both girls for their performances on and behind stage if we really want to protect them? Time to give the girls peace. I shall now stop.
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One should not be too hash to the girl who is miming. After all she gave a good performance too, with the good facial expressions and no sign of being nerves. Basically she did a very difficult job very well.
I remember last time the Chinese organisers were bitterly criticised by bloggers over the choice of the young girl performer in the short introductory performance at the end of Athens games. That girl then was very nerves and even looked frightened, and was pointed out as one of the major flaws in that performance. Within China people have since questioned the competency of Zhang Yimou in directing the opening ceremony. I remember the general comments were that "... with 1.3 billion population there are so many girls capable of performing, it is ridiculous that Zhang can't even find a decent one."
So I guess it is natural for them to be very worried about the girl singing part in the ceremony, if the girl performer showed nervousness in the actual event just imagine how people especially the bloggers will grill the organisers alive.
There might be a slight mistranslation here. By "the girl looks better on camera" I think the director really meant that the girl performs better in terms of nerves and expressions in front of camera. The actual singer is very cute and is clearly very talented, but perhaps just not as talented as the first girl in terms of acting. The organisers did not manage to find the perfect girl after-all, so they had to resort to this. It is good that the singer is not brushed aside and left unknown.
I think the singer girl will become even more popular now in China, because she will be seen as an "unknown hero", and this is greatly appreciated in Chinese culture. She may become a bigger celebrity than the girl who performed in the spot-light.
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To Kyonko No.341,
Seems Ok this time... They've deleted many such posts yesterday but lifted the censorship today again. Maybe this time they only want to control the intensity instead of censor it entirely.
Just now there are three top posts in Sina forum about this two-girl thing. And you guys should really go to see how ordinary chinese criticise it.
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I think it was without doubt the best opening ceremony i have ever seen at the Olympics. The little girl singing wasnt a huge part or no where near the bit i enjoyed. In fact, it was at that point i was heating up my beef and onion pie in the kitchen.
The whole ceremony was amazing. I feel people are just nit picking as everyone knows there will never be another performance like it....
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There were over 50 kids miming, not just Lin.
The whole thing is fake.
And fire works is not a China first, I saw it in a movie it was used in the west by people in Atlantis.
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I don't like the idea of using another girl's voice for the singer either, but it is the musical director's personal decision, maybe you can call him foolish, or the whole directors team foolish, but not good to blame the country for this.
I think some Chinese readers feel upset about this blog not because they agree with the idea of "mime", but James' intentional exaggeration of this incident, which is his consistent style so far.
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it is really funny that the so-called freedom of speech has its own definition in this blog too.
some of my posts are being blocked, and these posts have evidence to show the wrong statement of bbc news.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
WHY DID YOU DELETE MY MESSAGE? I MADE A FACTUAL COMPLAINT ABOUT BBC'S MEDIA BIAS AND IT WAS DELETED BY BBC?!
MOREOVER THE EMAIL REPLY SAID THAT THE THREAD WAS 'CLOSED' WHEN IN FACT IT WASN'T!
THANKS FOR PROVING MY SUSPICION ABOUT WESTERN JOURNALISM.
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To # 362, londonlurker:
?Lip-sync and CG effects are common.?
?Because actual arrow shooting is difficult you don?t blame them?how hard to shoot an arrow comparing to fireworks forming footprints and smiley faces??
I said shooting an arrow to hit a distant target is near-impossible or impossible, so people expected it to be unreal.
Deception is all related to natural expectation.
The critical point is whether you expect it to be real or not. No body expected that the girl flying above the stadium to be real, so no body criticized that it was faked. Fireworks resembling different shapes are usually imperfect, people naturally expect the shapes to be imperfect. People expect live TV broadcasts of fireworks to be real.
Lip-sync and CG effects are not common for live TV broadcasts in western societies. And if they happened, they were criticized by western viewers and media just the same.
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Its a shame that BBC has lost its individ uality...They seem to be hunting around to find faults with other people...Its high time they realise that Britain is far from a perfect country.
Ever since the olympics have begun, the corporation and other news agencies are trying to defame the chinese by hook or crook. Why dont we realise that we live in glass houses and throwing stones at others will always boomerang.
We only have half the money alloted for 2012 when compared to the money the Chinese have already spent..
I sincerely think that they have done a great job...thumbs up to them.
Time to grow up.
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I think it's worth mentioning again not all the fire works are fake...it's those 29 footprint on TV(the first 28 to be percise) are computer enhanced visual effect.
That doesn't mean there is no fire work during the ceremoney or all fire works are fake...There are 29 fireworks as well just not sure if they looks like footprint in live.
Sadly many media feels like they been waiting for the flaw for ages and now they scream like on drug and the "whole' fire work become fake in some public views.
That's why I hate exaggerate media, they seems to have a ngetive feeling about everything in the world.
come on...at least it's Chinese media reported this first in the world and shouldn't they get some credit for that?
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Re: strict visual standards for girls and women involved in presentations at the Olympics - this is reflective of the now predominating message in the general culture in China today that the abolute single most important factor for a female is her beauty.
We (me and my friends and colleagues) struggle with or benefit from this, daily.
This message is also very strong ( also far too strong) in the UK but I find it all-pervasive in China to a degree that I do not find in the UK.
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My God, are you still going on about this. don't you have any real news to report?
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Few people made a decision to use two actors rather than one then China and Chinese government got blamed for "faking". Last time an anticoagualant drug call "clexane" caused death China was also blamed. Only because the factory is in China. No one held the manufacturer responsible . They can not be responsible because they are a western company. So it is the Chinese workers and the Chinese government's fault.
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The organisers disclosed it them self. To all those grandless accusation that the girl was told she was ugly, did you hear what the organisers acctually said to the girls? Sick of these assumptions. The nasty comments are the only thing that can hurt the two girls. Thanks to the decision of the organiser and their disclosure of the decision, both girls (Not only one)are now famous in China. I hope both of them successful acting(for Lin) and singing(for Yang) carrers
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Hey, Frenz,
Should you please notice this info: The suggestion of using the 7-yr old gal's voice to replace the 9-yr old gal' was by the broadcaster, BOB.
So, should we move our critisizing target to BOB now?
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And the 9-yr old gal was singing on stage. It was the director who just din put her signal into the broadcast signal, instead, they used a pre-recorded version by the 7-yr old gal, who was also one of the candidates for that performance.
I'm very surprised that so many people can be just easily misled by a few distorted news.
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Do anyone of those critisizing on this issue know that, the Durin Winter Olympic used a pre-recorded version for Pavarotti?
Do anyone of those know that the Salt Lake City Olympic also used pre-recorded video of its firworks?
For those who are critisizing China or its gov on this issue. If this kind of "faking" is something that you feel shame of, please also be surprised when you watch your countries' "faked" movie and live TV programs.
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add to #316
james,the vedeo game you've played wasn't quite what you have thought either.
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#351 - walkingfish99: thats interesting as I have the same problem when trying to post on Chinese blogs, except all my comments are removed. And when I try to show a wrong statement of Chinese media I am arrested.
Think the BBC are too weak to arrest you though, so you'll be ok.
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Sure this kind of visual trickery occurs often in entertainment. We expect this with staged productions. But this is the Olympics, not a blockbuster movie where you suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy the movie. The Olympics is supposed to foster trust and honest competition. The communist government should have made the fireworks and the girls names public well before the opening ceremony. Finding this out after the fact does little to promote trust. Also, the Olympics is about skill. The athletes are not competing on their looks. The opening and closing ceremonies should be a celebration of skills. I would love to see Yang Peiyi sing at the closing ceremony.
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For those who can read Chinese, please refer to the following info. Also, the James please note about this info:
?????,????????,???????????????????????????,?????«????»?????????,??????????????,???????????,????????,????????????,????????????,??????????????4?,??A?B?C?D??????A?,????B??????8?5????,??????????,7???????,????4???????????????,??????,?????????,??,??????????,?????????????????????????????,??????,???,????7?????,??????,???????????BOB???????????,???????????(?????????),??????????????,????????????????????????????????????????,?????,???????????,????????,???????,??????,????????????????????,??????,????????????????????,?????????????????,?????????????????????,???????????,?????,????,?????????????????????????????,????????,??????,????????????,????????????,???????????????,????????????????
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One more thing, in the Opening ceremony's playbill, the Singer A's name is Peiyi.
Miaoke's name is at the B place.
Moreover, it was the broadcaster BOB who decided to use Peiyi's pre-recorded voice. Not the Chinese government.
Hope this can help our readers have a clear view of the truth of this issue: there are not even a little scandal, everything was transparent from the very beginning.
For those who like making roumors, please, study harder for details next time before you release your irresponsible words.
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oh, and one question to those who blamed the Chinese government:
Now knowing that it was BOB, the broadcaster who requested to use the pre-recorded version, would you guys turn all ur words which u used to described the Chinese government to BOB now?
Looking forward to your answers
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To whinejunkie No.354,
"Lip-sync and CG effects are not common for live TV broadcasts in western societies. And if they happened, they were criticized by western viewers and media just the same."
They are common in China, but chinese still criticise them. You have all the right to criticize, but to say this is deception is a distortion of reality.
There is no intention of lying, as they've divulged the information themselves. Only James didn't know that the info has been divulged, but it doesn't mean he has been lied to.
Please don't exaggerate it as if it's a big deal enough to discredit the whole ceremony. It looks like you guys are just trying to make a scence to shame china. To attack Chinese by using this isn't at all nice.
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I seem to remember that the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles were opened by an archer firing an arrow over the Olympic flame.
The arrow did pass over the bowl but the flame was lit electronically.
No-one seemed to care that that was faked ... should we constantly be on the look out for tricks and tomfoolery?
Not when it comes to the Games - it's a tradition that people cheat a wee bit. Look at the athletes for one ...
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It's funny that anything can be linked to Chinese Government. This also can be consider as Gov's decree? One more real thing for you and your blog guest information: DO U KNOW that the weather of that day was also fake!!!! It was forecast that there would be a downpour during that time. CHN gov. order meteorological department to fire 1104 rocket projectiles to dispel the nimbus in order to ensure the ceremony will not be impacted. The most rainfall in suburb of Beijing was beyond 100mm during that time. And now, do you guys feel disapointed that the Olympic organizer can not give you a real weather whatever you sit you seat in nest or in home at that time? Do your belive that this "big deal" is nastier than drug sportsman? What's CHN going to present us is a grand visual banquet. and finally people were shocked by this shows. That's all. I think no one will feel upset in Hollywood movie that they pay the money and do not see anyone dead.
I'm waiting for the next Olympic. See whether U have fake. It's your turn!
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And I'm wondering that no one think about why Lin MiaoKe can not show her voice at that time? "This is my time and I can not show my voice just because my voice is not pleasing enough?" Just becasue of this and you disgust? Come on
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Bush use phonetics in his speech for words he can't pronounce. He may as well just lip sync his entire speech. That's less embarrassing.
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The words of Chen Qigang are used by the media out of context and are distorted. First, Chen did not say that Yang Peiyi was considered not good in appearance. He merely pointed out that Lin Miaoke was considered to have the best image. Second, when Chen talked about national interest, he was claiming that the national interest was served by combining the best stage presence with the best singing voice [to present the best perceived performance]. He did not mean that it was a matter of ?national interest? to hide Yang Peiyi from the camera.
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He wasn't attacking anyone he was starting a debate? How over-sensitive are you people. We read a range of sources to get different opinions and don't believe any of them 100% - did you see the Independent with it's "The Greatest Show the World Has Ever Seen"? headline? These angry responses to a harmless article do more to damage Western opinion of China than any journalist can.
And of course the Chinese never insult anyone.
Yours, a "Big Nose" Western "ghost".
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You are very patriotic. You also believe that China is very different from England. On the surface both countries are very different. The physical appearance of the Chinese and English, the languages spoken by both, the foods, the houses, and even the minds (East and West), all tell tales. But these things are very superficial. There are 20,000 - 30,000 genes in a human body and only about 3 genes decide what a person's hair and skin colors are going to be. Skin-deep indeed is skin-deep. You might have some same genes as a White, a Black, and your own Asian genes, mixed up all in you. Of course a White might also share some prevalent Asian genes. The story goes on. People are people. We all want more or less the same things. The whole world is a blood relative to all of us, Black Brown Yellow or White. The world (globe) is only among many many many many many others in the sky. We humans are the only(?) beings in this vastness, and how can we not see each other as a big family when in fact we are all related by blood? Your ancient ancestors had travelled (on foot most likely) from Africa to Mideterrinean regions, to Europe, to Central Asia, and finally to East Asia (and probably vise versa even though the accepted theory is that we were all originated in Africa.) The Chinese genes are the most diverse. I think to be Chinese is not really as sacred as you feel. (Sentiment of nationalism has become the religion in the Middle Kingdom.) The 5,000-year-old history is becoming a baggage with no real substance if it does not have the enlightenment of great minds. Great minds are shaped from open-mindedness. There must have been a great number of great minds among 1.3 billion people but where have they been? Why do most of the great minds of Chinese come into existence only outside the Middle Kingdom? The political climate is too gray, isn't it? The world does not want to be "one dream" in such bad weather. We want sunshine and sparks. The sparks of freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of press.... The shaping of the mind is through upbringing and education. If you are all the time bombarded about how wonderful your government is, you will believe it. Do you know the Koreans also feel very proud just like the Chinese, except the Koreans never feel they are the center of the world. (Too much of that can be narcissism.) During the unfortunate 19th century when China was being bullied by the West, do you know China was itself bullying Korea? Nowadays, China is bullying Tibet, Xinjing, and Taiwan, in the open, but Korea also feels the bullying. Is "bullying" a human nature?
About the language:
There were languages disappeared in the human history but mankind didn't die out with the long gone languages. Many Asian-Americans speak only English. The fact you speak Chinese and someone else speaks English does not mean very much.
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To #326, londonlurker :
" No one told you it was not computer generation anyways."
Just imagine someone is caught lying. When asked why he lied, the reply is " I did not tell you I was telling the truth".
Now, you should understand why people outside of China (including people of Chinese ancestry) do not respect China dispite its economic and military might.
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singxmm made a good point there, whinejunkie should read singxmm's comments before arguing with me.
lukaigirl, romantic comment, but who are you speaking to?...
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To whinejunkie No.378,
No, I don't need to imagine that. It was James who said the committe didn't divulge the info yet it did. The two-girl performance was not even decided by Chinese as singxmm pointed out, it was BOB.
Now you guys keep forgetting what have you done and come around to blame us. Who is lying now?
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To whinejunkie No.378,
You should go back and read my previous comments. My stance is clear enough that wrong doings should be admitted by all means. The argument between you and me was about you exaggeration and changing of concepts.
A show is not a documentary, just like you won't expect people actually die in movies. So how serious to use special effects? Live TV show for new year eve in New York use pre-recorded pieces, and I don't see anyone complaining. It's just TV. Now come to our show, you argue it's a thing about authenticity. What a double standard.
Do you know why we don't respect the west now? Just because this relentless using of double standard.
You just can't admit you are wrong and try to save your face all along. You must be a Chinese I suppose?
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I think both the fake fireworks and the miming are against the spirit of the Olympics - Its about participating and not winning. Shame on the organisers for thinking that their own people are not good enough. What's next - get better looking people at the medals podium rather than the winners?
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What are we really debating here? That the chinese organisers choose technology and special effects that are used throughout the world?
That they choose one child over another - are these not the same choices and effects that directors and producers make and use all other the world. Are we in the west not prone to choose beauty first?
It seems to be the wrong metaphor has been chosen to try to show the inscrutability and hard headed decisions the China authorities make - the BBC should know better than to play to cliches. Well done China on a great use of 21st technology and finding the best mix of voice and beauty for a great opening ceremony.
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I'd like to question your intention and your knowledge by bringing out the topic of "fake" voice.
It is a performance. Anyone in charge of the artistic work should be creative in combining all possible technologies and means for generating desired effects, just as a good movie usually is made out of.
What to surprise?
Please tell us which of the following great British films are not faked in your sense of falseness: Hamlet, Henry V, Gandhi, Great Expectation... And do you think Mr. Shakespeare should be denounced by faking so many stories?
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Typical James Reynolds, please be a proper reporter and do some real investigation rather than relying on second-hand materials.
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About the two girls, I think it is a regrettable decision - as said by many of my friends, China should have been able to find a girl that is both pretty and can sing. I bet both Miaoke and Peiyi are both pretty and can sing (otherwise they would not have been picked for training for this performance) - it's just that Miaoke is prettier and Peiyi can sing better, and Zhang Yimou, a director who is obssessed with presenting the perfect show to the entire world, wanted to combine the best with the best.
And clearly Zhang Yimou did not do this with the intention of cheating the world - otherwise they would not have voluntarily tell the world about this. In this regard, I don't think Peiyi's credit has been wiped off, or that her talent has been used, because her name, and her talent, is now made known to the world. Her name appeared on the official list of performers. Both girls are being talked about very fondly by people inside and outside of the country. Those people who worry that their lives may be "ruined" can relax a bit.
I'm also interested to see that in the minds of many commentors, only showing the face would count as "performing", as they feel it unfair that Peiyi was deprived of the opportunity of "performing" - well, she did, and I'm sure the singing part would be a life time experience for her, in the same way that the showing face part would be for Miaoke.
Having said all these, I still think the decision is regrettable. If Miaoke's face and Peiyi's voice combined would achieve score 100, using both the voice and the face of either one of them would probably achieve a score of 98 - and that would be good enough for the purpose of this opening ceremony. And would have saved all these debates on morality/honestly/cruelty/human right, etc.
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The `miming' issue is only a small part of Olymipics opening cerenmony. Strickly speaking, this is just a show, not performance. I do not understand why you feel cheated. This is unlike we take banned drugs in competing sports. There are too many people only concentrate on irrelevant issues.
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During the London 8 mintes, we were disappointed to see the performer in the wheelchair was not in fact disabled but was leaping around later in the dance. Not quite what we thought. We feel so cheated.
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So now it's revealed that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra mimed Melbourne Symphony Orchestra key parts of its performance at the opening of the Sydney Games in 2000.
Seems like China is a lot more honest than Australia, at least, the Chinese organisers revealed the truth themselves at early stage but Australia has kept the secret for 8 years and their musicians had to sign confidentiality agreements. Interesting, really "not quite what we thought".
Now will you guys who have bashed on China turn your bashings to Australia?
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Sydney Olympics faked part of their opening ceremony too
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/sydney-olympics-faked-part-their-opening-ceremony-too
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