I wasn't sure if I should put this in with Sports or Current Events, and decided it was more than Sports, it is a world event.
So, has anyone been watching? I love the Olympics, both summer and winter. I love to watch sports, especially those that we don't always see on TV much.
What are your thoughts? Any favorite events or athletes?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
BEIJING — A 7-year-old Chinese girl was not good-looking enough for the Olympics opening ceremony, so another little girl with a pixie smile lip-synched "Ode to the Motherland," a ceremony official said — the latest example of the lengths Beijing took for a perfect start to the Summer Games.
A member of China's Politburo asked for the last-minute change to match one girl's face with another's voice, the ceremony's chief music director, Chen Qigang, said in an interview with Beijing Radio.
"The audience will understand that it's in the national interest," Chen said in a video of the interview posted online Sunday night.
The news follows reports that some footage of the fireworks exploding across China's capital during the ceremony was digitally inserted into television coverage, apparently over concerns that not all of the 29 blasts could be captured on camera.
China has been eager to present a flawless Olympics image to the world, shooing migrant workers and so-called petitioners who come to the central government with grievances from the city and shutting down any sign of protest.
The country's quest for perfection apparently includes its children.
Lin Miaoke's performance Friday night, like the ceremony itself, was an immediate hit. "Nine-year-old Lin Miaoke becomes instant star with patriotic song," the China Daily newspaper headline said Tuesday.
But the real voice behind the tiny, pigtailed girl in the red dress who wowed 91,000 spectators at the National Stadium on opening night really belonged to 7-year-old Yang Peiyi. Her looks apparently failed the cuteness test with officials organizing the ceremony, but Chen said her voice was judged the most beautiful.
"The national interest requires that the girl should have good looks and a good grasp of the song and look good on screen," Chen said. "Lin Miaoke was the best in this. And Yang Peiyi's voice was the most outstanding."
During a live rehearsal soon before the ceremony, the Politburo member said Miaoke's voice "must change," Chen said in the radio interview. He didn't name the official.
So Peiyi's voice was matched with Miaoke's face.
"We had to make that choice. It was fair both for Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi," Chen told Beijing Radio. "We combined the perfect voice and the perfect performance."
Chen couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
A photo of Peiyi posted Tuesday on popular Web site Sina.com shows a smiling girl with bangs and crooked teeth. A China News Service story posted with the photo says a China Central Television reporter asked Peiyi whether she felt regret over the opening ceremony.
Peiyi responded that just having her voice used for the opening ceremony was an honor.
Whether the move was unethical, or unfair to both girls, has become a hot topic among Chinese and is racing across the country's blogosphere.
"The organizers really messed up on this one," said Luo Shaoyang, 34, a retail worker in Beijing.
"This is like a voice-over for a cartoon character," Luo said. "Why couldn't they pick a kid who is both cute and a good singer? This damages the reputation of both kids for their future, especially the one lip-synching. Now everyone knows she's a fraud. Who cares if she's cute?"
Zhang Xinyi, 22, who works in marketing in Beijing, disagreed.
"I can understand why they picked the prettier girl. They need to maintain a certain aesthetic beauty during the opening ceremonies. This situation is not so bad, especially since it gives two people an opportunity to shine rather than just one."
Peiyi is a first-grader at the Primary School affiliated to Peking University. Her tutor, Wang Liping, wrote in her blog that Peiyi is both cute and well-behaved, with a love for Peking opera.
"She doesn't like to show off. She's easygoing," Wang wrote. She and other school officials couldn't be reached Tuesday.
Miaoke, however, was a minor celebrity even before the opening ceremony. The third-grader appeared in a television ad last year with China's biggest gold medal hope, hurdling champion Liu Xiang, and she was in an Olympics ad just before Chinese New Year, China Daily reported.
Miaoke has her own blog, and one of the latest photos posted since the ceremony shows her looking up nervously at the ceremony's director, film director Zhang Yimou. "Giving the child encouragement," the caption says.
Her father, Lin Hui, told China Daily he learned Miaoke would be "singing" only 15 minutes before the opening ceremony began. The newspaper wrote Lin "still cannot believe his daughter has become an international singing sensation."
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Iris.. Thanks for blaming my fascination with gun shows on Jolie. I have an amazing way of shifting blame when I don't want to fess up and you totally fell for it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Michael Phelps is unbelieveable. Our swim team is unstoppable!
As for the little girl singer. This is not the first time in history that a more attractive person was put in the place of a less attractive person. I feel for the actual singer but it is her voice, undeniably. If any of you remember back in the 90s the big ta'do about C+C Music Factory's depiction of the vocalist in their hit song then you will know there are a number of incidents of visual appeal over vocal ownership. It will happen again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Yeah, but I think it's better to hold the Olympics to a higher level of sportsmanship than that... even if it's for the theatrics of the opening ceremony.
11 Golds total career for Phelps. Most ever for one person. I think he has 5 for this olympics so far...
I agree that isn't the nicest thing for them to do, but honestly, it's not as *shocking* and *appauling* as the media is making it out to be. And remember, we are talking about a communist country!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
I think Phelps is amazing too. Only 23 years old and look at what he has accomplished in his swimming career.
The thing about the little girl.. not to beat it to death .. I just think it's absurd, as are their reasons for doing it. They did this to make it more appealing in their own eyes, but what they did actually tarnished their efforts to most of the world. These are children.. and there was nothing wrong with the way the little girl who was the actual singer looked. It just sends such a terrible message, not only to those little girls, but to all who know about it. And the comment from her father, he "still cannot believe his daughter has become an international singing sensation." Oh dear.
Some have compared this to when Luciano Pavarotti lip-synced at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. The BIG difference here is it was his own recorded voice and he did it because he was in much pain months before his cancer diagnosis, plus the bitter cold made a live performance impossible.
And you are right Gidget, this is a communist country and this pales in comparison to other things that go on there. So to some it up, I will say this again, they just don't get it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
There has been a lot of speculation that the some of the Chinese women Gymnastics team are under-age. The rules state that you must be at least 16 years of age. I'm sure all the other countries followed that rule. Here's one story, but there are a lot more..
What do you think? Is it okay to enforce some rules but thumb your nose at others because you are China and communist and can get away with anything you want? Of course, "It's in the national interest." (Which was their reasoning on the little girl singing controversy.)
I think that it would be in the national interest to be honest and not break the rules of the organization they are hosting for a world-wide event, risking integrity and honor and such.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
I've been watching gymnastics whenever I can. Last night I was, of course, tearing up when we won silver and gold. I really can't believe what some of those athletes do. Both the men and women have showed incredible strength and flexibility. The best I could ever do was a cartwheel off the end of the balance beam. One guy, I think it was the American named Sasha, did a horse routine that floored me. It was inventive and daring and beautiful to watch.
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Sasha wasn't even supposed to be there but because the Hamm boys didn't go, he was able to. His horse work was unreal! I was tearing up for Nastia and Shawn!!
One thing about Phelps that is really getting under my skin and pissing me off is the fact that he has won so many gold medals and yet he STILL isn't signing our national anthem when they play it for him! That pisses me off!!! For a guy who basically knows he will be there 5 plus times in any given Olympics should HAVE TO learn that song! It's disgraceful in my opinion that he just stands there...and to top it off during the relay gold ceremony he and one of his teammates were joking around and laughing during the playing of our national anthem. WHAT! Has it become that common for you Phelps that you can't take a moment and embrace your country's anthem? I almost hope he doesn't win another gold because I don't want to see him just stand there....
*steps down from soap box*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
I was wondering about that too Gidget. I noticed some, but not all, of the athletes look like they sing along. I don't think Nastia sang either, only mouthed a few of the words from what I saw. But she was totally in the moment, her eyes were teared up, and she showed respect for the anthem and its meaning.
I was totally amazed by what our gymnasts have accomplished. I was a little peeved when Nastia and Sean were tanked a little on their scores, but they still won. I was amazed by both of their ability, especially Nastia, and see that she was totally deserving of her title. She was flawless in most of her events.
The thing that amazes me most about the men's gymnastics is the Rings. When they pull their body up to form a perfect cross and then go from there to laying out flat and then into handstands and such, just from the strength in their arms. I can't imagine the strength and control that must take. Most people can't even do one chin up, let alone all that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Gidget and Paula, when I watched Nastia (whose name has unfortunate overtones in English) at the medal ceremony, I commented to the family, "If it were me, I'd either belt out the anthem at the top of my lungs or I wouldn't sing at all." Another athlete did the same thing of singing only some of the words. I would have learned the words before heading to the Olympics, and even though my voice is certainly not of soloist caliber, I would have sung the anthem proudly or stood respectfully and weepingly. It is a very difficult song to sing, so I don't blame them much for not singing, but I would have sung since I care little what people think of me.
Hey. Now that the Chinese have set such a lovely lip synching precedent, I propose that all athletes just mouth the words while Jon sings for the them! Jon does a grand job of singing the anthem.
**************************** California Christmas this year.
I wasn't talking about Nastia or any other athlete and the anthem, I was strictly talking about Phelps. He knew he would be there several times, Nastia did not know she would be there, hoped it but didn't know it. At least she sang a few words...Michael has yet to do that. I thought last night, when he literally inched out his 7th gold, that he would finally sing at least a word, but no. I'll tell you what...if during his 8th gold ceremony he is laughing and joking with his teammates I'll forever dislike the guy, no matter how good he is in the pool.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
I know you were referring to Phelps.. but I'm saying that I think a lot of them don't sing it, and not because they don't know the words, but because they don't know if they should or not? I don't know. I have always wondered about this because in all the years I have watched the Olympics, I have noticed that some sing along and others don't. I didn't really think anything of it, just wondered about it and if they should. Usually, from what I recall, they just mouth some of the words. That is what I remember as being the norm. Regardless of whether they sing along or not, I do agree that they should be respectful and not goofing off at that time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Are they supposed to sing when they get their medals? I thought they were just supposed to stand there and maybe do a civilian salute, which I've seen Michael Phelps do.
I know extra verses to the national anthem (the rest of Key's poem), but I almost never sing along. Nobody around here does. Maybe it's a regional thing.
In what could be his last race in the 400 IM, Phelps broke his own world record by more than a second, surging ahead of silver medalist Laszlo Cseh of Hungary and U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte, who won bronze, in the breaststroke leg, which is usually Phelps' weakest stroke.
"I was pretty emotional after that race," said Phelps, who added that he wanted to sing the national anthem on the medal stand but couldn't because he was so choked up. "I'm pretty excited to have the first one under my belt."
I read another article that said something like, one of the other American medal winners asked Phelps to sing the anthem while they were on the podium, but Phelps couldn't, which made them laugh. Maybe these things are all related.
Ok... I want to first say that Paula wasn't alone in the appreciating of the 'gun' show!!!!
As some of you might recall from the Athens Games, I am a HUGE fan of Gymnastics!!! And I just happened to be lucky enough that I didn't have to work while they were showing the All-Arounds (Now I'm off until I see a doctor). And I didn't watch the Swimming last time around, but OMG I think I'm a fan now, although the people at work got mad at me for saying that Michael Phelps looks like a sock monkey, but I can't help it, the man is a little funny looking, but he looks really good with a hat on
Anyway I will take this one event at a time for the moment...Starting with Swimming...
Oh My Freakin' GOSH!!!! 8 Gold Medals in a single Olympics!!! That man is going to be rolling in the dough for the next few years. Although I have to say that my favorite from the men's team was Lochte. I totally loved how we stuck it to the French. And I really enjoyed watching the women's team, although some of them were a bit annoying, there were a few that liked to hug the line, and that was annoying. Anyway, Holy Breaking World Records Batman!!!! I am very IMPRESSED with the Team USA.
Ok now on to Diving Did you all see my man???? The Oh sooooooo HOTT Canadian Diver Alexandre Despatie!!! He is even hotter this time around than he was in Athens, too bad he came in fifth on the Synchro though (not nearly enough air time for him)... But they do the platform dives this week, and you better believe I will be watching (and prolly drooling)..
Next is going to be Beach Volleyball... It is totally awesome that both US teams that have made it to the Semi-Finals to defend their Gold, sad that the other two teams didn't make it into Medal play.
Gymnastics.
I'm gonna talk about the girls first. There is no way that little girl that competed in the prelims was 16, she was still losing teeth Anyway, before they even started the All-Around comp. they were talking about Nas and Shawn and I told my sister 'They are going to go one/two, and Nas is gonna take Gold' and she was like 'No Shawn will take Gold, and Nas will probably take Bronze' (I was right!!!) That was some amazing gymnastics, I hope Nas does well on the Un-even Bars tonight. As far as their Team Comp. when, OMG I wanted to scream at Alicia, she let falling off the beam effect her floor rutine, had she gotten over it, they could have taken Gold... But Silver isn't that bad...
Ok now the Men's Gymnastics... Bronze with a team of all first timers, AMAZING!!!!! I absolutely LOVE the Men's Gymnastics Team! they way they were always talking to the camera was so cute!! And Justin Spring, holy freakin' crazy stuff there Batman!! The way he swings around on the High Bar with one arm, no one else does that at that spead. I watched the National Champions this year, and he was swinging on that bar so fast he fell off, so I was just glad he held on. I love Raj's story, about how he made Alt. four years ago, and almost gave up on Gymnastics and then decided to try again this year, and only got on the team because Morgan Hamm got injured last month. But my personal favorite member of this team is Alexander Sasha Artemev, he is so adorable, and the way he kicks his feet on the Pommel, nobody does that!!! They call the Pommel 'the beast' cuz no one can tame it, but Sasha has come close to taming the beast!!! And to think, if Paul Hamm hadn't gotten re-injured and then decide to completely retire two weeks before the team was to leave the country, he wouldn't have been able to see that!!!
And the only other comment I'm gonna make about Men's Gymnastics right now is, did you see that Japanese guy fall off the RINGS!!! OMG!!!!!!!
to jolie
Anyway, before they even started the All-Around comp. they were talking about Nas and Shawn and I told my sister 'They are going to go one/two, and Nas is gonna take Gold' and she was like 'No Shawn will take Gold, and Nas will probably take Bronze' (I was right!!!) That was some amazing gymnastics, I hope Nas does well on the Un-even Bars tonight. As far as their Team Comp. when, OMG I wanted to scream at Alicia, she let falling off the beam effect her floor rutine, had she gotten over it, they could have taken Gold... But Silver isn't that bad...
