Stunning Beijing opening marred by lip-synching

China is under fire after it was revealed that 9 year-old Lin Miaoke was lip-syncing at the opening ceremonies, after Chinese officials ruled the original singer didn't portray a proper image.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Aug. 12 2008 2:00 PM ET

A nine-year-old Chinese girl's stunning performance at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony has been marred by revelations she was lip-synching.

Lin Miaoke was lip-synching Friday to a version of "Ode to the Motherland" sung by seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was deemed not pretty enough to perform as China's representative.

The revelation on Tuesday came after it was also revealed that a spectacular pyrotechnics display of footprints making their way across Beijing was digitally inserted into television coverage of the event. It was presented as live coverage at the time.

CTV's Lisa LaFlamme, reporting from Beijing, said many Chinese feel dismayed and betrayed that the adorable girl who became an instant symbol of China's bright future, wasn't actually singing at the opening ceremony.

However, she said some Chinese don't fault officials for taking extreme efforts to make the ceremony perfect.

"We did hear both sides today but I would say the average person on the street is horrified at the notion that anything was faked," LaFlamme told CTV Newsnet.

The music director for the opening ceremonies, Chen Qigang, told Beijing Radio a last-minute decision was made to match Miaoke's face with Peiyi's voice.

"The director said the organizers' plan was for the seven-year-old to sing, but during rehearsals Chinese leaders ... decided the seven-year-old didn't fit the national image," said CTV's Steve Chao, also in Beijing.

"According to the music director the opening ceremony was so important to Chinese leaders, it was supposed to present a flawless image of the country to the rest of the world, and the seven-year-old didn't seem to fit the bill."

Though her voice was beautiful, Peiyi reportedly had some crooked teeth and didn't pass the cuteness test.

"The national interest requires that the girl should have good looks and a good grasp of the song and look good on screen," Chen, the music director, told Beijing Radio.

"Lin Miaoke was the best in this. And Yang Peiyi's voice was the most outstanding."

It is not clear whether Miaoke knew she was lip-synching.

A news story posted on the China News Service says a China Central Television reporter asked Peiyi whether she felt regret over the opening ceremony.

The little girl replied that just having her voice used for the opening ceremony was an honour.

Peiyi is a first grade student at a primary school linked to Peking University and has been described by her tutor as cute, well behaved and with a love of Peking opera.

Miaoke had appeared in a pre-Olympic commercial last year with hurdling champion Liu Xiang, and was already a celebrity in China.

Comments are now closed for this story

Tim
said

I am an immigrant. During recent years I've seen some major media use every chance to criticize China, from human rights to fireworks. I always think Canadians are very kind and friendly in front of the world. On the other hand China never did, does nor will do harm to Canada�s interests. It looks like some journalists finally have found the target to pour dirty water on, without responsibility. Please report on our athletes. What are they doing every day? How do they prepare? How do they think about the Games?

Andy
said

For all of those who compare lip synching by professional singer and the lip synching in the Olympics ceremonies, consider this:
When Madonna lip synchs, it's because she wants to give you a studio quality sound with a live performance experience.
When a 9 year old lip synch to a 7 year old singing, it's because the goverment thinks she to ugly to represent the country.
Big difference

H
said

How lovely, a 7 year old isn't pretty enough. Typical.
Disgusting.

KO
said

So, who cares? Is anything "real" nowadays, considering all the video games and virtual reality. My, how observant, you noticed from the beginning of the song that she was lip-synching before anyone else did, why didn't you break the huge story? Oh, wait, it isn't really a story, unless there was some subterfuge involved. Things like this are bound to happen, because people are always looking for that next big fix, it's gotta be bigger and better and more spectacular than what the last guy did. Don't blame China, it could be anybody.

Mike
said

Is lip-synching a problem? No, not really. I've been told that this is often done when people sing the anthem at sporting events, for example - part of the reason being that they either cannot hear themselves, or there is a delay that hinders their performance. Please note that this is not the case here! It's one thing to lip-synch your OWN music, but to substitute another person, and essentially give them credit for the other's work? Well, seems awfully similar to plagiarism here - and the reason given was 'image.' How disgusting. As far as the 'digitally enhanced' footage? Well, when it's being reported as NEWS, yes, it IS a big deal.

Tony
said

I was more mesmerized by the suspended torch bearer who was running along with the video screen that unfurled images. The fireworks were a great touch.

Anna
said

It would be cheating if they said it was a solo. Did they say so? If they didn't, it was just a show. I would certainly hope the voice came from the same cute girl but nothing is wrong if it didn't.

Shawn
said

Maybe if the fireworks weren't real, maybe Canada's medal count isn't real either.

A M (Max) Beaton
said

Get over it! This happens hundreds of times a day here so why make an issue of it?

Andrew
said

I don't find any of this offensive really.

The only thing that bothers me is they didn't use the singer because she wasn't cute enough.

From her picture (on a different news site), she is a delightfully cute child.

M
said

I don't think the real issue lies in the lypsynching but rather in the fact a talented young girl was told she wasn't cute or pretty enough to represent her country. The pursuit of perfection is a waste of time because no one and no country is such.

LM
said

Get a life. stop China bashing. give them some credit for putting up a Super show and winning medals. And report on the actual Games.

Sandra
said

Opening marred? If that is the only part of the olympics that will be tagged as marred ... than yay! Hoping for a safe olympic games for everyone!

Marcela Brazil
said

This is ridiculous!!!Only because Chinese government says that the little girl is ugly and has crooked teeth she could not represent China on a world stage.How about her awesome voice???Actually I saw a picture of her and she's very cute!This is absolutely awful

R. Price
said

The average North American person has no right to criticize the Beijing lyp-syncing, as we are obssessed with perfectionism. Most of us spend beyond our means to make our hair,faces,and bodies look "better". Not to mention cars, clothes, houses and more. It seems the Chinese are learning quickly!

All that glitters is not gold !
said

I don't blame the Chinese for trying to make things appear better than they are. That is after all the spirit of socialism/communism... trying to make things appear better than they actually are.

TL
said

I don't have a problem with the fact there was lip synching, my issue is that the girl who was really singing was not deemed pretty enough to be on tv. She's only a child for goodness sake, very sad. That said, I know this kind of thing happens all over the world, it's not unique to China.

Ciny
said

Alright, enough. Once again a world in a state of shock over such a massive scandal. Perhaps what we really need to do is come up with a new word. No more using the word FAKED. It would seem to me that if they really held the opening ceremonies in a sound stage in LA or India or in front of a green screen and said it was China then it would be fake. If they showed us the open of a restaurant in London or Sydney and said it was the opening ceremonies for the Chinese Olympics, that would be fake. Our increased savvy of all things technical and our reduced attention spans demand that high tech be used for everything that is broadcast to the masses and when it is used, we are totally and completely gob-smacked and offended that someone tricked us. Get over it! The big issue here is that once again the human race has decided what the face of perfection and cuteness should, and apparently does, look like. A government has told a little girl that she is not pretty enough to be on tv. Now I'm offended.

MP
said

What's next? we find out that the Olympics never really happened and it's all CGI?

Spielberg would be proud.

TMoney
said

Yeah the opening ceremony was great. Almost as explosive as watching Chinesse troops beat monks or tanks crushing students. I'm a sports freak as are all my friends and no one I know gives a crap about these joke of an Olympics. The olympic movement has crawled in bed with the worlds worst too many times and is irrelevant. I don't care if Canada wins squat one medal. Is a gold medal somehow going to prove the Chinesse people or system somehow superior? No it's not. No amount of spectacles and lip synching can overcome the revulsion many people feel towards the Chinesse government.

Fay
said

I don't think Vancouver's show will match the one of Beijing in any way.

What's the big deal about lip-synching? Did you enjoy the show? If yes, just go enjoy the games.

Howard Chen
said

Generally speaking, it is just a TV show, not a documentary. If the directors or producers never told the public they must not use any CG, lip-synching, or whatever, how can you say they were lying?

please......
said

I agree 100% with "Unfair"

Let the little girl with the crooked teeth and the not so cute face sing the song in the closing ceromanies...just to show the world who she really is !

I bet she will get a standing ovation from every last person in that stadiun, regardless of nationality.....and regardless of a few crooked teeth

Let the world see the face behind that angel's voice

Z. M. Carruthers
said

I think that all the fakery that has come to light to date and more will follow is indicative of a different civilization with different values and standards and what means they will go to.

Some civilizations avow their image (or what appears to be) over the Western sense of honesty or realness.

These Olympics are based on fallacies and I don't support them at all. I know politics is not supposed to be part of the Olympics BUT IT IS! China got these with false promises, fakery and insincerity. I feel strongly that the Olympian participants should have taken a stand rather than valid what is an insult to the Western Mind. i.e. we'll tell them what they want to hear and it will be too late to change the venue.

SHAME

Jason Ricardo
said

How exactly did they lie about faking the footprint fireworks when it was already revealed by the information card given to the commentators. The NBC broadcast mentioned they were digital before it began, the CBC chose not.

I'm definitely irked that they decided to use another girl as the voice, they could have simply found a cute girl who had a create voice. As for being more open you got to admit it's amusing that the organizers reveal this information on a Beijing radio show and everybody is pissed they were lied to.

Chico
said

None of these things were relevent. You have to like the most important part of the Opening Ceremonies...the lighting of the cauldron. Now that was pure China and loved it! Ranks with me as one of best, close to the Barcelona with the arrow in the cauldron.

Lucy at the Border
said

I guess there's no 'real' news to report today.

This is just another case of the media trying to make a story out of nothing.

If anyone is offended by the special effects and the opening ceremonies, they better not go see any movies either....because we all know how 'real' those are.

Oh, and better not watch Oprah or any other show on television where the characters are wearing makeup to 'look better' and have sound editors to help them sound better...

Daniel Manitouwadge
said

It's called sour grapes. Toronto lost the bid for the Olympic and USA are jealous because they couldn't display a nice traditional show. That explains why all the Canadians and Americans are picking on Beijing.

We'll see what'll happens when Vancouver hosts the Olympic and the world criticize their show. karma, what comes around goes around.

No one appreciates art or culture. It shows our society has gone down the hill... rap, violence and stupidity.

I just think everyone is being racist against the Chinese. That's how i see it.

Tammy Lopes
said

Like it wasnt obvious! Still China did an amazing job....good for them. Hopefully in 2010 Vancouver comes close to pulling off such an amazing preformance.

Yawn
said

How could this possibly be the lead story? This has to be the "who cares?" story of the year. Get a life people.

Cindy
said

Talk about pointless stuff to get up in arms about. They aren't the first, and they won't be the last.

If this upsets you, you need to get a life.... seriously.

RobinHood
said

The Olympics is a politically driven, ego-centric, ultra nationalistic event anyway where steroid powered athletes are pawns of authoritarian nationalists and politicians! $40+ billion US spent by the Chinese and meanwhile they have 100s of millions of poor who are virtually destitute in an environment that has become too polluted for any quality of life even in the remotest sense. In this sense China is not much different from many other countries so I do not see the scandal here... its to be expected.

But still hilarious to listen to the crud being spewed out by some of the bloggers on this forum either for or against this vain act of self centered nationalism.

andre in Ottawa
said

The real show was in the stadium. That wasn't fake and it was flawless....

Alam
said

China is not lying. It's the Media. Typical North American Media.

Bravo China. We believe you guys did it and did it right.

I'm not going to get bluffed by media. I consider this report as a trash.

Congratulations China - Great Job !!!!!

Eric Wolf
said

Who cares? The Olympics are a monumental waste of money and an exclusive club for rich countries. How many countries are actually taking part? If the money used for the opening ceremonies was distributed amoung the countries that can't even afford to send a team, the Olympics would be a truly world event.

Chinese supporter
said

Who cares it was fun..forget the one upmanship and the political grandstanding..China will come into it's own..have patience..those dinosaurs will not last forever..The chinese are a smart and intelligent people ..time is on their side

Kyle from Toronto
said

I'll never understand why there is so much hate towards China by North American's in general. Any and every excuse is used to spew messages of hate and disdain. Its gotten to the point where people are now confusing politics with a society in general. And when did we as North Americans ever become the moral gatekeppers of the world, so that we can pass judgement on other societies for how they choose to live or what they choose to believe? What power gave us that right?

A lot of comments I've read on this site seem to indicate that peoples perception of 'communism' in China reflects that of the Stalinist era. It is not. Yes, no doubt there is oppression of free speech and a questionable human rights record, but is the West so pure and clean that we can be throwing insults at others before looking inside our own boarders? Omar Khadr?? or has everyone forgotten this due to the media flooding our eyes and ears with how terrible Beijing was to "fake" aspects of the opening ceremonies?

I feel sorry for all of you who think you're making a point by not watching the Olympics. What a dream world we would all be living in if everyone decided to just close their eyes and ears afraid of what they might see. China is a great country with fascinating people and a fascinating history. You're selling yourself short if you feel like you're proving a point because the only thing you're doing is not supporting our athletes. Good Day.

Aaron
said

Watching the opening ceremony during that event in HD the colours that were used in the foot prints did look a little off. The people announcing on NBC said the fireworks could have been faken but it was hard to tell and they really didn't care as it was still impressive(Going from memory so don't quote me please)

Mo
said

Wow...some of these comments here make it sound like deception is such a foreign concept. Just because they're communist, they're evil and lying proves it right? What about the number of times we've been deceived by our government? What about the US? It's a sick double-standard for those who speak of this deception as if it can only happen in China.

Also, I'm inclined to believe that this report overexagerated how "fake" this performance was. With so many reporters, so many citizens around, you'd think they'd notice when the fireworks aren't there when it's on the TV. I'm with Ioannis Panayotacopoulos. It's likely it was digitally edited, but not faked. Think about it, with so many reporters, it takes them 4 days to discover this. There was no way it was "faked", as this report suggests, but rather it was digitally enhanced (oh no, only the commies would think of that!) That's a big difference that equates to improper reporting from our reporters, because it could be misinterpreted in the many ways, as it has from these comments.

As for the lip-syncing...China's just that evil that they come up with such a new concept like lip-syncing in concerts, right? Of course! cause China's evil and everything they do must be evil too (sarcasm).
Geez...where are all the reports about our athletes?? That should be big news, rather than this "faked" report. I'm sure if this happened in Canada, it would've been totally acceptable.

Cheryl in Moose Jaw
said

I don't care that she was lip-syncing. That doesn't matter. What does matter is letting a seven year old child (not to mention the rest of the world) know that she is not considered 'cute enough'! That's just wrong on so many levels. If someone told my 8 year old that she sings wonderfully but she's not cute enough, I would lose my mind on them!

ET
said

Some of the atheletes aren't the best looking either...maybe they should send in some alternates to the podium?! My point is, the Olympics are supposed to be about individual, and team achievements...NOT looks! Had China actually put the real little girl up there to sing, they might have put a more human face to their games/nation. Instead, we now have freedom of speech issues, and blatant discrimination based on looks.

Cheryl
said

I don't think that is right for anyone to pass judgement on the fact that one song was performed through lipsync!
Do any of you have the confidence to stand up in front of 91000 people and even pretend to sing a song? I highly doubt it.
There also might be more to this story then what we know about. Such as the girl who sang the song might even been to afraid to do it!!.
Lets worry about things that are actually important!! Like what is happening in our own households!

Mario
said

This is no different than what Madonna, Janet Jackson or Britney Spears do at any of their live performances. When you don't have a good singing voice you lip synch.

To be honest when I watched it on TV it looked like the little girl was lip synching. But I'd rather see the real 7 year old girl with crooked teeth singing. I don't think it would have reduced the cuteness factor.

Logan
said

Laureen, I am so sick of this FREE TIBET thing. The Olympics IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY! It's a fricking SPORTING EVENT. I repeat, the Olympics IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY! It's a fricking SPORTING EVENT. Why wait until the day of the Olympics to suddenly rise up and say, "Hey! Let's start protesting now!" Why didn't you do it a year before? Or two years before? Why didn't you protest when it all started in the first place? The olympics are SPORT ONLY. Keep your politics to your damn self and wait until the end of the Olympics to raise your hell.

Now, aside from that, I agree that some things may seem faked or digitally added, some things may not be as they seem and lip-synching occurred. But don't sweat it. Most singers these days lip-synch at concerts, audio synchronization is off on many other things like movies and television events. We're human, we aren't perfect, but.. hey... I digress.

Jason J - Kelwona,BC
said

Sweet a whole country using the wondrous techniques of Ashley Simpson!

Mike R
said

Surreal.

We ask that the worlds finest, devoid of impurities to perform in a totally artificial enviroment. Fake streets, edited for t.v. enviroments, the perfect chinese populace.

What a sham, and a shame....

Steve in Aylmer
said

Can China superimpose a Canadian athelete winning a medal?

Instead of Phelps can we insert a Canadian swimmer`s face. Otherwise, we`re done.

Ki-Som
said

The fireworks excuse I could live with. When they said they replaced the 7 year old because she didn't "fit" what the leaders wanted, that is just wrong and shameful.

MRC
said

A reality check for that opening ceremony regardless of your opinion: it cost upwards of $300 000 000 dollars! I'm sure if we had that kind of money to throw around for one evening, we'd make such an event great as well. That price tag disgusts me.

Given that, now I can't stop laughing that many elements were fraudulent!!

When will the West stop being a nice guy? You know the old saying: "Nice guys finish last".

Sal
said

Fake TV and lip-synching - gosh, that would never happen in North America...
Come on! Get over it - there are a lot more important things to worry about -the people who were kicked out of their homes to build something "pretty" so we would all forgive China for their repressive stand on human rights - but, hey, let's focus on lip-synching.

Robin the Hood
said

The whole Olympics thing stinks of ego-centric nationalism, politics and fake heroism... its supposedly marketed as sporting get together where friendship and cooperation takes the center stage but is in reality a blatant display of national pride, vanity and lack of humility. These are the same attributes that also can lead to such things as racism, war, ethnic cleansing, etc... except here they are expressed through the games. The athletes are pons of nationalists and politicians, pure and simple. The games would have merit if they were blind to the stench of nationalism. So where is the surprise that China is only a big faker??.. who cares if you're not watching this nationalistic event anyway?! This sort of basal display should have ended with the gladiators centuries ago.

D. Coulter
said

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards of Great Britain didn't fit the IOC's image for the Olympics at the Calgary Games, prompting rule changes to exclude future appearances by those with similar desires to represent their countries, if their caliber of performance was deemed too low by the IOC and various sports bodies as to be unsightly. Why then should we be upset if China's Olympic Committee or the government of China pulled a couple of "Milli Vanilli"-esque stunts to impress the nation and the world? Aren't they just following the acceptable and established Olympic tradition?

GR
said

Doesn't the media have anything better to cover other then a little girl lipp-singing China's "Ode to the Motherland." So what..

I dont see anything wrong with this lip-sing stuff and the pyrotechnics.

Stevie
said

Wow... how would you feel as parents if you were told by the Chinese government that your little girl had an amazing singing voice but was too ugly to represent the face of China on a world stage????

M Smith
said

Hey - Madonna lip-synced at Wembley - I think just about every single pop star in North America has done this at some point, with a few notable exceptions.

You sound so shocked that the Chinese Government would lie about anything. The US and Canadian Governments lie all the time - why should the Chinese be any different - they're just catching up to the west.

ruth
said

Why doesn't surprise or shock the world!

Nick from Alberta
said

I think Beijing, China has put a lot of effort in planning and organizing the amazing event. I believe the medias in the west, especially Canadian medias are jealous of the spectacular and best show ever organized by the Chinese government. They try to find flaw in Chinese government and even in it's show.

Shaz
said

Aren't the olympics themselves 'fake' in a manner of speaking - excluding most definitely the passion and talent of the athletes themselves. All these great nations fight to host the show to bring the world together as one big happy brotherhood of commraderie yet it really is just about money and recognition these days. So really, shame on anyone who has made the opening ceremonies the highlight of the world stage - if I recall correctly it used to be all about the athletes who work so hard to represent their contries now the olympics is akin to oh say the half time show at the super bowl - the bigger the better regardless of the outcome of the game. And I agree with everyone pouring shame on those offended by the creativeness - at least China recognizes that it really is just the opening ceremony that many are watching and judging. I say if you want an impressive games in the future tone down the opening and get the focus back on the athletes and stop guaging what country spends the most money to impress!!!!!!

Mike
said

HONESTLY....who cares

Erin
said

That is the most pathetic thing I have ever heard. The Chinese government and Olympic committee should be ashamed of themselves.

Kim Insley
said

Who cares if the fireworks were faked? Aren't we all suppose to be caring about global warning anyways ?
The lip -synching thing...thats almost laughable coming from North America. Think almost all live performances now days by famous artists.
So I ask whats the big deal, we were all in awe Friday with the ceremonies why does that have too change?

Martin of NS
said

Who cares!? Lip synching is very common in the West(Ashley Simpson, Milly and Vanilly etc etc etc)so the west can NOT act all righteous in this case because it happens all the time here. Canada should just learn from what happens in Beijing and hope no Public Relations mess ups happen!

On a lighter note:

Go Team Canada!!!

Kevin
said

Another tactic by the US government trying to discredit China. Don't believe everything you read or hear people. How about some footage? There must have been more than one camera covering this event. Not all stations can have the picture 'digitized'. Next we will be refering to them as 'RED' again.

Unfair
said

China should allow the little girl who sang the song to be in the closing ceremony so the world can appreciate the real singer. Pretty sure they disguise the girl if they're afraid of her sub-standard look, ie. use a costume or something.

kate
said

Oh who cares. Look at the american teeny boppers like Spears, they lip sync all the time, all their teeth are porcelain and the rest of them is silicone.

As for the fireworks..first they get critized for air pollution now when they try to minimize they get critized as well.

Get over it, China's opening ceremony was brilliant and they deserve kudos for it. Sounds to me like sour grapes on behalf of the Western media.

Steve in Ottawa
said

Another 'Made in China' product.

CS
said

I am so glad that I don't give a dam aout the olympics in China. They have been a farce right from the bidding process years ago. They should never have been given to China. I am glad to say that I and lots of other people I know have not watched a single event. I feel sorry for the advertisers who got sucked into spending millions of dollars to advertise. I won't buy anything from them. The IOC needs to be more prudent on who they give the Olympics too and not be so concerned with money and accepting bribes.

Allan Eizinas
said

Blood doping, growth hormone injections, various chemical cocktails to enhance performance and avoid detection, political boycotts, forced displacement of poor locals, totalitarian suppression of minorities, slanted judging and giving medals to those who can afford a better boat or a better horse.

Lip-syncing and doctored video pales in comparison.

Char
said

Is this what its come to faking the openings and lip syncing its not right. Real fire works and actual singing is very nice to see everything is faked now a days when what the world needs is real people and entertainment!!!

Tori
said

It is sad when a country feels that a child with crooked teeth and less than perfect looks needs to be replaced. What kind of precidence is this setting? We try daily to teach our children that it is what is on the inside that counts. That looks although important to maintian cleanliness and healthy bodies, is more important than being yourself.
My question to the Chinese governement is, how can pretending to be something you are not be better than the real thing? They have just marred a wonderful opening cermony.
Learn from this Canada, don't fake it. Do the best we can make it all Canadian and be proud of every single person who participates.

les segal
said

China lied to get the olympics and the hits just keep on coming. The IOC should hide from shame that they were so gullible and self-serving and so blatantly public about it. They usually hide behind closed doors.

Fred N.
said

I am mildly surprised at all the pro-Chinese comments to this article. China should never have been awarded the games in the first place, with their record of human rights and communist oppression. It is clearly evident that the IOC has not learned from '36 and '80 and has turned a blind eye to the situation that exists in the country they award the Olympics to.

Alex
said

****The fireworks really happened**** For those that think the fireworks were faked, your wrong. They actually were going on outside the stadium but it was decided that it was to dangerous for the helicopter to follow them so close, and that it would be impossible to get all 29 footsteps on camera if they didn't do it digitally. The digital effect was strictly so that the people in the stadium and us at home could enjoy them more.

laureen
said

Be ashamed all you who are entertained by these games and all who participated. You have forfeited Canadian values and principles for games and glory. Lip-syncing and digitally doctoring fireworks is hardly an issue compared to the oppression of the people of China, the imprisonment and torture of good people. Canadians do you stand for anything anymore or are you only about fun and games and the almighty dollar? We have become a culture of ignoramuses. How can we boast about our human rights when we care not an iota about the brutal abuses in China?

Anne
said

Come on! Chinese government is trying very hard to put on the best show they can. If I were the leader, I would have made the same choice. Hopefully the leader would do something to encourage a better dental program across the country. I do notice that Chinese don't pay enough attention to their teeth and gum as much as their diet and exercise.

John KW
said

People are taking the news of this "scandal" much too seriously.

a) The Chinese government lies to its people most of the time - otherwise why is there such a strong sense of patriotism in China? The people are obviously manipulated into believing that the country's history is something other than what it really is.

b) The Opening Ceremonies are a show, pure and simple entertainment. They did a fantastic job. It's sad that the little girl whose beautiful voice was used was not on stage, because I think she too was certainly pretty and innocent enough in appearance to have filled the role quite fine.

I am certainly no supporter of the Chinese government and its apalling record, and I know that Beijing was a poor choice as host (were it not for the politics of the IOC, this location would be out of contention before the final stages of bidding based on pollution alone!). I do however think its time to stop pointing at every news story coming out of the Olympics as reason to put down the Beijing organizers and the government. I for one think China has put on a great athletics event thus far.

FreakAlert
said

Way too much 'China-bashing' occurring in the American and Canadian mainstream media.

Here's a harsh reality for many in North America. China's standard of living will be rising considerably as ours, here, in North America, will lower. And, the irony will be watching Chinese media reporting human rights abuses in the US and, even, Canada. If one doesn't understand international commerce, just wait and see for it to unfold.

Steve
said

They also promised they'd give serious attention to human rights issues and pollution; did anyone really think they'd approach the opening ceremonies in any kind of honest fashion?

They've lied since day one, and they'll continue until this event is over.

Nicolle
said

At first I felt really bad for the little who really signs the song but than I thought maybe she only wanted to sign and didn't feel confortable signing infront of millions of people.

I would love to see a picture of the real signer I am sure she is a cuty!!

For the super nice fireworks every events tries to beat the previous one..so Canada for 2010 I'm sure you are already thinking on what to do and I am confident it will be just as nice if not better than what we saw in China

Mary Koch
said

Anyone who thought/assumed the show was all "pure" is really naive.

Of course it was "digitally enhanced". Dah. That's why it was so darn amazing.

m;)

Uncle MAC
said

You are correct Joe. the west is simply jealous cause we are a broken fiddle. we have forgotten our religion and all our values. We dont stand for anything. Yet china stands up for their beleifs. WE are truly broken

Doug BC
said

WOW!! I'm shocked to find people who are actually surprised by this.IT'S CHINA PEOPLE.I won't be surprised if a lot more of this fiasco turns out to be just as phoney.
While I can concede a lot of it is simply cosmetic crap,mostly put together by a Chinese regime intent on trying to make China acceptable to rest of the world,I find it a bit ironic that so many people who oppose any mixing of politics with sports are the same ones to be impressed by this show.
Being overly critical may be a bit counter productive.But it's not beyond the bounds of decency to tell the Chinese leadership that we have not been fooled.
I'm just wondering who they got to go tell the little girl who actually sang the song,that she wasn't pretty eough to be seen on stage.In Canada an employer cannot have on employee wish the customer Merry Christmas if it's against his/her religion.But in China this kind of child abuse is OK.
Give me a break and stop making excuses for extremely bad behaviour.
Before this is over they should give the real singer her day in the sun.I'm sorry,but even if she's bald,one eyed,and has no teeth she deserves recognition for her talent.
But hey,it's China.I guess we all know the regular rules of decency don't apply if it doesn't live up to the image that the state wants to portray.

Daniel
said

It is very pitiful a media even targets a young girl. It unbelievable attitude that a whole media station doing northing to promoting the friendship between two countries but spreading all out rumors or exaggerated stories to viciously smear the host countries. But in the end of the day, those media still not able to promote Canadian spirit to complete globally in all respects!

Rachel
said

I don't see this as being newsworthy so much - I do have a problem with these two little girls being taught that beauty and image are what matters. Beauty is so much more than skin deep....

H
said

I am a Chinese living in Toronto and I am very proud that the Chinese were able to put out such a spectacular opening ceremony. Ask London to top that in 4 years! No way!

Mel Lastman still feels disappointed that Toronto didn't get the 2008 Olympics. If we got it, we wouldn't have even come close to what Beijing has to offer, in terms of money and people resources! China is willing to go all out to prrof to the world that they are the best host country. We cannot top their enthusiam. every volunteer we see on the TV screen has beaten thousands of others who also wanted to volunteer but could not pass the english test or height or look requirements. many of these volunteers have travelled far to Beijing just to volunteer. Do we have similar national pride here???

Frank
said

Not like the Super Bowl where the singer of the national athem lip-synch every year. But that is okay, as it is the most watch event in North America.

jonathan
said

Wow Canada, I watched the ceremony in New York on NBC and when this segment cam on Bob Costas mentioned how it was one of the many cinematic elements that were being introduced into the show by the the production team. In case you are wondering the ceremony was directed by a very famous Chinese movie direcetor, it's not a big deal.

Stevie
said

Basically the IOC 'gave' the Olympics to China so they could 'open up' and show the world who they really are and how far they've come in the last half century. This just solidifies even further that they're a bunch of fakes and don't have the balls to show their real selves. Should I be surprised? Not at all... can you say pathetic??!

snower
said

c'mon, stop the sympathy for this by trying to say give them a break or there's bigger problems elsewhere.

They decieved the world and tried to get away with it for the olympics to make them look better.
That's what this article is about.
This is what the hosting country has to accept will happen when they win the bid for the olypics.

They deserve to be scruntized becasue they are supposed to be perfect or at least better than the other countries they beat out for this great honour.

Dave Williams
said

Canada and Canadians should Grow Up!!!
Instead of working towards becoming a more tolerable and successful country and face the reality that we are continually being left behind by other countries, we are bashing a country that has become a HUGE SUCCESS. China has impressed the entire world and exceeded everyone's expectations. It will no doubt become the GIANT of the world shortly. Canadians have shamefully won no medals at the olympics and what do they do? They bash the GIANT. I am disgusted by the negative news coverage always trying to bring China down.

Anonymous
said

Who cares if they showed us what it should have looked like, I'd rather see that than only see half of the footsteps and those be distorted by haze. They didn't fake it because it still actually happened.

Sierra
said

umm... and this is a surprise??? or news???

the government lying to it's people... I find it difficult to believe the Chinese are that naive first of all.

and the lip syncing and digitally enhanced footage? again... I'd put good money that every super bowl halftime show has had the same done to it for the last 10 years. besides it's entertainment... last I checked reality was not a pre-requisite... or even desirable.

RRor
said

So What!
Western audiences routinely pay big bucks to watch pretty, no talent singers and rave about them.
I can't understand why we should be upset about this.
This is News?

Roger T
said

Just to stay on track with the Olympics, Canada has not won ANY medals so our Media outlets will need to report on trivial things to avoid the bad image for our own country and athlets until the first medal is won.

Cry cry cry

LesA
said

This is really becoming to much of an American style slander campaign being put on by CBC and CTV. I wonder what would be said of the 2010 games if every sneaky trick this BC government has used to cover up the real cost of the 2010 games.

Let's get away from the American style propaganda crap, keep the Tibetan separatist movement out of the smear campaign and get back to focusing on the athletes.

Zand
said

I think the Chinese felt a lot of pressure from the international community, to put on a show that would be talked about for years.

They have received a lot of flack for everything from polution to human rights.

I feel a little ripped off for the slight of hand that was pulled off, but is this the major story of the Olympics? No, I don't think so.

Ioannis Panayotacopoulos
said

The "Footprint" pyrotechnics were REAL, just ask the people in the streets in China,or lok on youtube for video clips filmed by people, but the video footage on tv was edited to make it look better and for the safety of the helicopter pilot.

As for the little girl lip-synching, I rather see her, than what the Americans would have used for their opening ceremonies, a 14 year old sexually active Miley Cyrus try to sing, or Janet Jacksons nipple.

RC
said

This is news? Don't people have never heard of it? So what if the girl is lip-synching, big artist do this. Several years ago they even strip a group of their Grammy's because they're caught lip-synching. So what's the big deal. As for the fireworks digitally inserted, it only show how technologically advanced China has become. I find these insignificant, for me it's still the best opening ceremonies I've ever seen.

KC
said

Knock-offs, counterfits, deceitfulness....this is China isn't it?

$100,000,000 can't buy you talent but a $900 Photoshop program can make anybody's olympic opening look good.

Vanoc, this is how it's done...save the money and buy Photoshop.

KJ
said

Like Nixon and the Watergate: he could have won the election easily without any trickery --- but was second nature to use all the resources available and sadly it speaks volumes about the mindset of the leadership of China.

Alain
said

Some of the athletes cheat to get the gold....why can't the host country do the same to look golden !!!

After all...what good for the goose...yada-yada-yada

Robert
said

The Chinese government is so afraid of what the outside world thinks. It makes me laugh. Do you think PM Harper or PM Brown are going to say who can sing at their games. If this is what they are admitting to, then what else did they fake? How can you possibly call this the greatest opening ever knowing it was fake?

NEC
said

What a lot of noise about nothing and anyway "who cares"

c.h.
said

as a chinese canadian i am disgusted by this. they wanted a good image but they faked it, that just makes it worse. so far their image is pretty bad and the giving them the olympics to help make their image better, just made it worse

Darren McEwen
said

Why is CTV reporting this story!? Who watched the games and actually thought the footprints fireworks were real!? First of all, why did it take four days to uncover this?

Were there no reporters outside National Stadium who could have said on Day 1, "Gee, there were no fireworks like the ones they just showed outside the stadium!"

Also, it was shown to the crowd as a video. If Vancouver shows a video to its opening ceremonies crowd I should now hope it's all live and real!

What a stupid story to cover.

David
said

We get mad at them for being so polluting, and then we get mad at them for faking a frivolous fireworks display - something that is polluting.

I see them as setting an example here. As for the lip-syncing little girl, that's show business folks. Almost everything on television is fake nowadays.

Mackenzie
said

Perfection is a goal they clearly badly wanted to achieve. Don't be so hard on them. Look at how our home grown students and their parents complain about the Chinese that take all the places at the universities. It's because they work so hard at doing their best. Maybe we can learn from them instead of criticizing them. What a concept!

Phil
said

ever heard the one about glass houses and stones?

Northern Eh
said

Sense China is so good at making "knock off" products, I guess they must think that making a " knock off" intro is the best way to do things. I firmly beleive China is a growing country who has a wonderful economy, the bad part is we are received there cheap knock off products not only by the boat load, but now by T.V!! Actions speak louder and clearer then any voice even can.

DANIEL H
said

Why be surprised about this? It�s just another example of government dishonesty that�s not different than any other country.

BAM
said

Come on, if you are going to post, first of all...use spellcheck.
Second, China cheated? No kidding. Was Milli Vanilli busy that night?
And yeah they put on a good show, its sponsored by a Communist Government where the money is not an issue and there is no accounting for it. Will Vancouver do better, will London? No. But both shows will be honest, beautiful and well worth watching....and no cheating.

I cant say the same for Soci, Russia in '14.

John
said

What's done is done, but it still would have been a beautiful sight to see the real singer, crooked teeth and all, singing her song. How can you go wrong with a seven-year-old ingenue?

Perhaps sometime we will get to see it.

Till then, congratulations anyway, China. Outstanding in very many ways.

Ilona
said

�The little girl replied that just having her voice used for the opening ceremony was an honour.�

What is the point? She will be famous in China for what she contributes.

After all �pyrotechnics display of footprints� is excellent idea, it deserves applause.

Stop criticizing.

Roger T
said

Cry cry cry, just because China did a spectacular opening now the media is jeolous and fear that the West can't compete because IT'S BROKE and in a recession!

What host country plays fair especially when it comes to the US. Every country wants to show case the best of the best and will do anything at any cost. Like our we Canadians wouldn't pull such things when it comes to the 2010 Olympics. Even if we did we WOULDN'T want it tell leak because we would be ashamed about it. But than again, we don't need to worry because we ain't got 40 Billions to spend, so we'll stick to 40 Million budget instead and we'll need all the fudging we can for sure with that figure.

Tian in Toronto
said

I don't think there are any problem for these, it is not big deal to use some high techniques to make the show more spectacular, the only one thing I wish is canada can make a same shock to world in 2010. Again, I wish the media of canada can judge China without bias, put the same effort to show audience of Canad the positive aspect of China rather than hunting every single trivia. Remember, no country is perfect, no government is perfect, include Canada

Craig
said

The ceremony was still the best ever.

Period.

Exiled Canadian
said

Lip-syncing and fake special effects? How outrageous!!! Not using someone in a production because of their looks? How dare they stoop so low!!!

The western world NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER does any of that. We would never lip sync during performances! We would never use special effects to enhance a production! We would never look for the most visually-appealing person to represent our products, services, or causes.

Anybody feel a bit hypocritical for criticizing the Chinese on this?

Keep on rolling Beijing. You're doing a fantastic job so far.

tony
said

lipsynching say it aint so if you watch you can tell its lipsynching. Dont tell me that no big USA singers who make millions have never done it

Vahan
said

Watch out Britney, Ashlee, Jessica and all other puffball "singers",there is a new lip-synched diva at your heels. Bubble gum pop could now be off-shored. At least Lin Miaoke will have all the lead she needs in her pencil to sign autograph for adoring fans.

glenn ayerst
said

Man oh man we sure like to be critical don't we. Meanwhile we see images of a smug George W sitting there like an idiot...give me a break.

Find something good to say or don't bother.

David
said

It's so shocking because we have never seen digitally enhanced films or watched lip-synced concerts here in North America. What will these Chinese think of next? They are such innovators in the field of making people believe what they are seeing is real. Do you note my sarcasm?
Although...this is probably more shocking than the fact that Canada hasn't medaled yet. Let's hope we do better in Vancouver in 2010.

Zhimmy
said

What a repressive communist dictorship lie to its own people and the world...

Who would have thought!

Beth
said

Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Very. However, I guess when you're image is far from perfect the best perceived way of improving that image is to fake a perfect image. I feel sorry for the little girl who "didn't seem to fit the bill."

Were the commentator's also duped? They commented on the footprints as they appeared on the screen.

Oh the tangled web we weave ...

Leslie
said

Although the little girl was cute, it was quite obvious that she was lip-syncing. You can really see it at the beginning of the song. As to the fireworks, was not a major element of the show, nice idea, but not the extravaganza moment. Let's not detract from a truly amazing show, the Moveable Type element was out of this world, as we other elements. Do not make a big deal of this, please, we all enjoyed the show and let's leave it at that.

Joe
said

oh my gosh...the media needs to give the Chinese a break here. There's always such a detailed article about every little thing that would sway the emotional favour to the "Free Tibet" movement when it's not even related. Lip-synching happens in so many concerts around here, why open the opportunity for more of the anti-China bandwagon jumpers to point fingers at whatever they can.
Go report on the Games.

Dexter Mandrake
said

Over 50 years of repressive communist dictatorship and THIS is what sparks Chinese anger?

"I know they lie about everything else but lipsynching? That's crossing the line!"

Chris
said

The Chinese government lying to the people? Say it ain't so!

I really have no problem with what they did, except for this, "The national interest requires that the girl should have good looks and a good grasp of the song and look good on screen," Chen, the music director, told Beijing Radio." Seriously? Who has a better grasp of the song than the girl who actually sang it?? This is pretty pathetic..

JP - in Victoria ,BC
said

And of course typical of North American attitude- we now trash the opening. Face reality- Canada and the Unites States have NEVER and NEVER WILl put on a show as such.
China deserves teh credit for a fantastic show- and as they are showing in the medals count-making the rst of world look bad-
GOOD FOR THEM-
LEt Canada learn from thsi Olympics as we prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

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