Prudence and Madness

After admissions that digitally-generated fireworks were added into televised footage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony, here comes another revelation that China, for the sake of the “higher interest of the nation”, has faked another part of what is acclaimed as one of the most spectacular Olympic openings.

At TimesOnline, it was reported that the beautiful voice that rang through the vast Bird’s Nest stadium singing “Ode To The Motherland” wasn’t that of the cute, 9-year old Lin Miaoke, the girl wearing the red dress and had her hair in pigtails.  The voice belonged to a seven-year old Yang Peiyi and the reason why she wasn’t allowed to appear in person to sing the song was reportedly because she had crooked teeth and her appearance is “unsuitable”.

Chen Qigang, music director for the ceremony said in an online article: “Little Yang Peiyi’s failure to be selected was mainly because of her appearance, because we were concerned with the interests of the nation.”

It appeared that while the seven-year-old child’s voice could not be faulted, her crooked teeth were not deemed suitable for a ceremony required to show a flawless China.

Lin Miaoke, on the other hand, wasn’t as much as a good singer as Yang Peiyi, but looked the smartest and cutest, the appearance of which that organizers and the committee approved of.  And so, they’ve decided to use both girls for the ceremonies: one to appear on stage and to project the “flawless” image of China and the other one to be the “perfect” voice of China.

Of course, the news drew furious comments both offline and online:

“What does it mean to say you are worried about image? Seven year old girls are all little angels. Why say this. It’s really ridiculous.”

“That’s bullshit. Any little boy or girl who is not so good looking and sees such an explanation will sob their heart out.”

But Chen Qigang explained:

“I think it is fair to both Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi. That is to say, we have a perfect voice, and a perfect image and representation - in our team’s view - combined together.”

Also, it appears that, aside from the digitally-generated fireworks and the lipsynch of the “Ode To The Motherland” song, China has also opted to project the perfect image of full house Olympic stadium by deploying “cheer squads” which aim to create atmosphere by cheering for both teams competing in an event and to disguise the presence of empty seats.

The legions of spectators wearing matching yellow t-shirts and banging together oversized inflatable batons have been highly visible at the first sold-out Games. But Wang Wei, vice-president of the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee (Bocog) revealed they were volunteers shipped in to “create a good atmosphere” by cheering for both sides at team events.

Sitting in seats not taken up by sponsors, Olympic officials and spectators arriving later as sessions get more interesting, they are being used to cover up the embarrassment of having empty rows at events that are supposed to be full. “If people turn up they will let them take their seats,” Mr Wang said.

At this point, I’m thoroughly disappointed with how China has approached the preparations for this extremely important international event.  I’m one of those who watched in awe as China gave one of the most spectacular display of artistry and discipline in an event that is viewed worldwide.  And I’m almost glad how they’ve been given the chance to show the world what a truly great nation it has become in the modern world.  But hearing revelations like this somehow diminished the wonder.

Of course, there’s still the respect that is rightfully due to all of those who have labored well and hard for Beijing Olympics to push through.  But, I think, I just couldn’t blame if everybody right now is feeling a bit wary about anything related to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  I mean, how cannot one think of this: what else is there that has been altered to project a perfect image of China?

I’m particularly sad about the plight of the two talented children, Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi.  The Olympic officials may have been thinking about what’s good for their nation, but I do not agree that their perceived good of the nation has to be at the expense of these two children.  If they had only let Yang Peiyi or Lin Miaoke appear on stage as themselves and sing the song, the whole world would still have been mesmerized by their talent, even if one is the better singer and the other, a better actress.  I don’t think the world would have minded seeing a little girl with crooked teeth singing beautifully one of China’s most important songs.  I don’t think the world would have minded that Lin Miaoke looked better in a red dress than Yang Peiyi.  And that is because the world would have appreciated honesty and genuineness.  I personally think both girls are beautiful and they both deserved to be on that stage.  However, it seems that China actually puts more premium on beauty even more than how western countries do.  And to be able to project that perfection, China will do anything.

But, for me, China’s attempt to project a flawless image to the whole world is one big PHAIL.