That isn't the only thing that they faked:

Fireworks faked in Opening Ceremony

Let's see, so they faked a singer, they faked fireworks, and they have 11 year olds competing...I wonder why a lot of people think they're full of it.

Face it. Us Asians just look very youthful. ;)

and have you seen the reports about banning older people from around the events? saw several stories about that as well over the past few days. did not think, at the time, to copy links. i may have been too stunned.

added edit:
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/c...issing-elderly
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/sp...ll&oref=slogin

I don't really like how it's being called faked, because it makes it sound like everything was fake and they didn't really set off any fireworks at all. The fireworks did occur. People in the stadium did really see real fireworks. TV viewers were shown pre-filmed, computer-enhanced fireworks for a 55 second segment of the show.

I do agree that replacing the little girl was crappy of them. I think she was adorable. I don't think there's anything wrong with how she looks. That's how I looked at six...crooked teeth, Dorothy Hamill bob, and all.

I wasn't saying that at all Sandy...but seriously, you believe those girls are 16? :)

Computer enhanced fireworks, sure in a videao game, but why in reality? It still looked amazing. What is the point? And replacing the little girl was a crappy thing to do...the one who actually did the singing was just as cute.

While so many are raving about the openness of China and how amazing everything at the Olympics is, I believe that this is what the Chinese govt. wants the world to see. I have friends who spent 3 weeks in China last year and they said it was nothing like what we are all seeing on TV.

Oh well...Go USA, go Phelps!

LOL, I was joking. I totally agree, there was NWIH those Chinese gymnasts were at least 15-16. My BF was shit talking the whole time.

This reminds of those C&C Music Factory music videas of the early 90s and how they used the plump singer's voice, but preferred a skinny and younger model lady to lip sync in the video.

I could believe that those girls were 16. But then, I lived in a dorm with 200+ Chinese, and not one of them looked their age. My roommate was 22, and she didn't look a day over 16.

They put in computer fireworks because it was too dangerous to show the fireworks live. The fireworks they "enhanced" were not the ones in the Stadium, they were the ones that were outside. If they had shown the fireworks live, they could have had a really big electrical problem.

The fireworks DID go off in Beijing. My friend was studying in Hong Kong for the summer & went to Beijing the last few days she was there (she came back the 9th of August, so i'm not quite sure how much Olympic stuff she saw) but she said it was EXACTLY like what we saw on TV. And that China is gorgeous!!

My friends who were in Beijing said it was beautiful as was the rest of China that they visited, but again, a lot has changed just for the Olympics. What we are seeing is what the gvot. is allowing us to see. My friends were both coughing up black stuff and blowing their nose with black stuff coming out because of the severe pollution there. I mean come on, it's the Olympics, in any country how much of the reality do you see when you watch them?

I teach in an area with a high Asian population, 14-18 years old, and the vast majority of my students look younger than their age, but the gymnast in question, I'm sorry, how many 67lb 16 year olds do you know?

i wonder that as well. have a family friend who is has been reporting from china awhile now for fox radio news. will have to ask him about that once he gets free of his over seer

Damn. After Alicia Sacramone's mistakes, I knew that China would win that gold medal.

I want to hug Alicia Sacramone. Poor girl.

Can they NOT interrupt the gymnastics competition w/ swimming? I watch the Olympics for the gymnastics, and swimming is probably my least favorite to watch. By watching swimming, they cut out 3 gymnastics routines!

Yup. She'll be playing that "What If" game for years to come.

^^ I knew that too :(

Did you hear that former (?) gymnastics coach's commentary at the end?

(Referring to the Chinese, something to the effect of: ) "They did really well... it's too bad they're underage!" LOL