The Failed Pacifist

Lip Syncing at the Olympics

Yang Peiyi, the seven-year-old who won a national competition to sing at the Olympics' opening ceremony, was judged too ugly (because of crooked teeth) by a member of the Chinese politburo and prevented from singing. Instead, nine-year-old Lin Miaoke, the girl in a red dress who appeared at the ceremonies, was actually lip syncing to a recording of Yang Peiyi.

"The reason was for the national interest," explained Chen Qigang, general music designer of the opening ceremonies, who revealed the deception during a Sunday radio interview. "The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression."

posted by Doran @ 9:47 AM