Yeah, the substitute is just a much cuter kid, it's not particularly close. It's weird and awkward they did this, but if the goal was improving kid cuteness, that mission was accomplished.

I'm sorry, but this is FREAKING HILARIOUS and totally sad at the same time.

I bet the substitute 7-year old is a total brat.

I was thinking the same thing. The girl in the red dress does look more "Western." It's really sad that minority cultures worldwide are still dealing with this issue...that's a whole new discussion:(

ETA: I think the actual singer is really cute BTW. I am glad she is proud of her accomplishment even though she was not the featured "star"

Most definitely! I'd like to send her fan mail.

wow that's really sad. poor kid :(

i think the actual singer is cuter.

Is this substitution any more messed up that what the opening ceremonies have become generally?

I also heard on MSNBC that the Chinese have admitted that the opening ceremonies were "digitally enhanced". China obviously saw a great need for "perfection" during this years olympics.

The Chinese used fake fireworks too:

Footage of the fake fireworks

If you really think about it, MOST countries and ethnic groups always try to e[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']mulate white European or American standards of beauty. When I was in college, we saw a video of Asian women who were getting plastic surgery on their eyes to look less Asian and more white/european. Us black women have been doing it for years, we straighten our hair, and think that lighter is better, so even though its TOTALLY WRONG (esp since it's kids) I can understand why they might have done it, the WHOLE world was watching, so they wanted to put up some one who they probably would appeal to the majority "standard of beauty"[/FONT]

1) I think that's messed up, that little girl is amazingly impressive. If they wanted eyes to be off of her, they should have 'digitally enhanced' more of what was going on around her so everyone would be so mezmerized they didn't even care to look at the little girl... who IS cute btw

2) While I was at work, we were watching the opening and one of the hosts came back, looked at us and said with the most straight face "The whole opening would be so much more awesome if they weren't dirty communist bastards." Gave a big smile and walked away. We immeidiately started laughing hysterically.

poor girl is going to have some serious self-esteem issues.

We are talking about the Chinese, who refused to submit the birth certificates for their women's gymnastics team - they would only submit the government issued passports. Word is that they range in age from 10 - 14, and the youngest age able to compete is supposed to be 16.
Can we get cute singing girl to come here?

Yeah man those girls look like they're 10.. Only one of them looked older than 16.

Those damned Communists...

1. I am waiting for someone to "Well, they all look alike."

2. Well if that isn't enough, what about them CGI'ing the fireworks?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4652802a12.html

I think someone pasted the link aready...eh...it's worth mentioning again....

Also someone said that China had a B ball team...All I saw Sunday was Yao Ming and 4 other dudes that was getting in good shape.


If they were so concerned they should have gotten this guy to sing:

http://www.thebestlinks.com/images/0/07/WilliamHung.JPG