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Olympics trickery

The Olympic symbol
  • Posted at 2:21pm
  • 15 August 2008
  • by DavidButcher-RT
  • 6 comments

Watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony (8 August BBC1), it was hard not to be overawed. It was so spectacular, on such an epic scale and so precisely drilled, you couldn't help thinking, "Crikey, London will never match this in 2012."

Then, a few days later, came the letdown. It turned out great chunks of it were faked. The most breathtaking part of the ceremony had been when the giant-sized footprints formed by fireworks marched across the city towards the Bird's Nest stadium. What a genius idea! What a spectacle! Except it emerged that Chinese TV had recorded that bit earlier, with a touch of CGI for good measure, and then pasted it into the live broadcast.

The cheek! We like to think we know a thing or two about TV fakery in this country. If hoodwinking viewers were an Olympic event, we'd be looking for medals. (No need for lottery support - phone lines could provide the funding.)

But it turns out the Chinese leave us standing. Far worse than the faked fireworks was the little girl in the red dress with the bunches. She sang like a mini-angel, while looking preternaturally relaxed and happy. Come on, I thought, you're a child singing for a billion people: at least act your age and look a bit nervous.

It crossed my mind that the merciless Chinese authorities might have put the little poppet on beta-blockers to keep her calm. It never, in my naivety, occurred to me that she was miming, that it was in fact a completely different girl singing, one marginally less pretty, with crooked teeth, and not quite up to the totalitarian standards demanded by the event's musical director.

An International Olympic Committee executive described the affair coldly as "a technical decision". How about that for the Olympic ideal, eh? Faster, higher, stronger…but if in doubt, prettier. My only hope is that, even as I write, Simon Cowell is capitalising on the publicity and signing up the real singer for a global pop career, though you wouldn't entirely trust him not to opt for the cute one and sort her voice out in the studio. Beauty beats talent every time.

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Comments

  • Posted on 21 August 2008
  • at 10:53pm
  • by M. Wood

You said, 'It turned out great chunks of it were faked.'

I say, 'It turned out you have exaggerated A LOT.'

But it's all good, we need to criticize China so we can feel better, remember this, '"Crikey, London will never match this in 2012."

  • Posted on 19 August 2008
  • at 6:28pm
  • by Cathy

I don't like fakery. All that money spent, all that effort, and they spoil it with unnecessary deception. A shame.

  • Posted on 18 August 2008
  • at 6:03pm
  • by Philcee

The pity with these corporate Olympic openings are that in the end they become 'expected'. The Athens presentation was in the best of taste and appeared to have huge relevance to the host country. The Beijing opening by contrast seemed to be pre-occupied with sheer volume -and slightly absurd in having the delicious Sarah Brightman rather than a native. But it raises an issue: having probably overspent at the expense of Londoners (rather than the Corpororate Government) will we be induced to emulate the Chinese rather than the Greeks? We are a population of 60m against China's 1.3B; a factor of 20:1; must we be induced to spend at the same rate? In addition finding that many performers from London's 7.5m would be a struggle, it is a high earning varied population which does not have that intense patriotism which characterizes many of the nations present. Sport in the UK is more of personal prestige rather than flag-waving -despite the current successes of many British Teams. I would hope for ideas rather than massed choreography.

  • Posted on 16 August 2008
  • at 11:16pm
  • by JM

I am so fed up of all the negativity and exaggeration about the opening ceremony. "Large chunks" were faked? Those sections were just a few minutes out of the entire ceremony.

It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the footprint fireworks (which were a wonderful idea) to later find out that it wasn't live footage. I disagree that it was *the* most breathtaking part. It was just *one* of the most breathtaking parts. I still can't forget the wonderful countdown with the thousands of drummers and the great display of the rippling keyboard, which looked computer generated but was actually performed by real people.

I don't deny that it was a shame that the little girl whose voice was used did not appear. But as for the little girl who *did* appear - I thought that for someone who knew that a billion people were watching her, she showed wonderful nerves. Even as an adult, I have difficulty being the centre of attention in just a roomful of people.

I'm now waiting to see what will happen in London 2012. I do hope that London does us proud. But I bet that it will be hampered by the same negativity that has spoilt some of the reporting of the Games for me.

  • Posted on 15 August 2008
  • at 8:30pm
  • by gigi

ouch

  • Posted on 15 August 2008
  • at 7:25pm
  • by Robin

BBC Olympic cartoon title and credits

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