A pretty girl who won national fame after singing at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was only miming.

Wearing a red dress and pigtails, Lin Miaoke charmed a worldwide audience with a rendition of "Ode to the Motherland".


But the singer was Yang Peiyi, who was not allowed to appear because she is not as "flawless" as nine-year-old Lin.

The show's musical director said Lin was used because it was in the best interests of the country.


The revelation follows news that a fireworks display used during the opening ceremony was apparently faked.

'Smiling angel'
Speaking on Beijing Radio station, musical director Chen Qigang said
the organisers needed a girl with both a good image and a good voice.

This is the second "fake" story about the opening ceremony.
Viewers around the world saw a display in which 29 firework "footprints" travelled across Beijing from south to north.
But a senior official from the Beijing organising committee (Bocog)
confirmed on Tuesday that footage of the display had been produced
before the big night. This was provided to broadcasters for "convenience and
theatrical effects", according to Wang Wei, Bocog's executive
vice-president.

"Because of poor visibility, some previously recorded footage may have been used," he told a daily press conference.

More Here: (including pics of the 2 girls)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7556058.stm

What sort of people effectively tell a child she is ugly?

What an amazing child that can still sing when somone has told her that!

Yes it's awful isn't it Ichthus - fancy telling
a child she's not good enough like that.

What sort of message does this send to either
of the girls and to children in general ?

I wonder if the 'pretty girl who 'can't' sing'
is still a celebrity now the truth is out ?

I agree with you too - it's amazing that any
child can still sing so beautifully despite being
told she's not 'flawless' enough to represent
her country by appearing at the opening
ceremony.

Well done to her