The Olympics: Breaking Children’s Hearts Since 1896

(www.livelywomen.com) — This is absolutely appalling:

A little girl and her song captivated millions of viewers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. But what they saw was not what they heard.

Games organizers confirm that Lin Miaoke, who performed “Ode to the Motherland” as China’s flag was paraded Friday into Beijing’s National Stadium, was not singing at all.

Lin was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was heard but not seen, apparently because she was deemed not cute enough.

“The reason was for the national interest,” said Chen Qigang, the ceremony’s musical director, in a state radio interview. “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. … Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects.”

The decision was made at the highest levels, Chen said.

“We had to do it,” he said. “We’d been through several inspections. They’re all very strict. When we rehearsed at the spot, there were several spectators from various divisions, especially leaders from the Politburo, who gave the opinion it must change.” (source)

So let’s recap: In the so-called best interest of China, a 7-year-old with a beautiful voice and a love for her country who no doubt was thrilled to be selected to sing at the opening ceremonies was told that she could not perform her song because “several spectators form various divisions” thought she was too ugly to put on international television because she was not “flawless in image, internal feeling and expression.” Brilliant. Just brilliant. Way to ensure that this child will never, ever feel good about herself no matter what. Good job, China.

If this isn’t alarming, creepy, and incredibly offensive, I don’t know what is. Yet ANOTHER reason I’m not a fan of the Olympics — image is everything. Go team.

Oh, and did I mention that the fireworks were fake, too?

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Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, yang peiyi, lin miaoke, opening ceremonies, 2008 olympic games, beijing, olympics, i dont like the olympics, i hate the olympics, self-esteem, self-image, fireworks, fake, prerecorded, lip sync, ode to the motherland, china, kristen king, lively women

Comments

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1370 days ago

Saturday Sanity: I Will Note Let You Ruin My Week, Warner Brothers
[...] our brains that makes us feel like someone’s following us and Kristen at Lively Woman has a very justifiable rant at the recent treatment of two little girls at the Opening Ceremony of the [...]

By Everything about China seems Fake now

It is so disheartening! It makes me sick that you can tell a 7yr old that she is not good looking. Also, looking at the female gymnasts that seem obivously underage to anyone with half a brain….I am disgusted with these olympics. Shame on China!

By Alicia, Mental Health Notes

I just read about this last night (at Perez Hilton’s blog, of all places), and found myself incredibly pissed off. One little girl is being taught that her talents aren’t enough to take her all the way if her face isn’t deemed “cute enough,” while another little girl is being taught that her talents (or lack thereof) don’t matter because her cutes will pave her way.

And, as a side note that really doesn’t matter, I thought both little girls were cute. I think all Chinese children are cute. I hope that doesn’t sound offensive (I really don’t mean for it to!), but I’ve always thought Chinese children are adorable. It’s sad to know that some of them are being told they’re not.

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1373 days ago

The Guilty Parent Award Goes To: China «
[...] I found this little tidbit over at Lively Woman. Kristen King tuned me in to the story of the little girl who sang during the opening ceremony at [...]

By Nikki

Thanks Kristen for making me lose my lunch. No seriously, I feel ill now. I’m blogging it right now I’m so disgusted.