This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7558140.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
China defends Olympic show miming China defends Olympic show miming
(about 2 hours later)
A senior Olympics official in China has defended some sleight of hand in last Friday's opening ceremony, saying it enhanced the theatrical impact. A senior Olympics official in China has defended the decision to replace a girl in last Friday's opening ceremony with another deemed to look more suitable.
Lin Miaoke was hailed as a rising star after performing a song at the spectacular opener. "I don't see anything wrong with it, if everybody concerned agrees," said Wang Wei of the organising committee.
But she was later found to have been selected for her looks - in preference to Yang Peiyi, who voiced the song. Lin Miaoke was hailed a star after performing at the ceremony, but it was later revealed she was miming to a song voiced by another girl, Yang Peiyi.
"I don't see anything wrong with it, if everybody concerned agrees," said Wang Wei, of the organising committee. Miaoke's father has told reporters he thinks Peiyi is also cute.
Nonetheless, the story had disappeared from several leading Chinese news websites on Wednesday, including that of the broadcaster which broke the story. "Yang Peiyi's looks are OK," Lin Hui reportedly said. "In my opinion, she's not ugly."
It is one of a number of stories thought to have caused some private embarrassment to organisers. 'Theatric effects'
In another disclosure, it was revealed that parts of the footage of the opening ceremony fireworks were pre-produced. Organisers have also been trying to explain why so many empty seats have been visible at purportedly sold-out events.
Last-minute
Mr Wang - executive vice-president of the Beijing Games organising committee (Bocog) - said the last-minute decision to substitute nine-year-old Miaoke for seven-year-old Peiyi had been taken jointly "by the group of directors".Mr Wang - executive vice-president of the Beijing Games organising committee (Bocog) - said the last-minute decision to substitute nine-year-old Miaoke for seven-year-old Peiyi had been taken jointly "by the group of directors".
"Together they are discussing with the broadcasters," he told reporters at Wednesday's news conference. What should we make of the two bits of the opening ceremony that weren't what we thought they were? The BBC's James Reynolds class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds/2008/08/not_quite_what_we_thought.html">James Reynolds: Not quite what we thought "Together they are discussing with the broadcasters," he told reporters at Wednesday's news conference.
"They are to achieve the most theatric effects for the benefit of the whole performance, the whole opening ceremony," he said."They are to achieve the most theatric effects for the benefit of the whole performance, the whole opening ceremony," he said.
The revelation that Miaoke had been miming to the voice of Peiyi was made by the show's musical director, Chen Qigang. Nonetheless, the story had disappeared from several leading Chinese news websites on Wednesday, including that of the broadcaster which broke the story.
He told Beijing Radio that Peiyi was pulled from the show at the last moment, after a senior Politburo member said she did not look the part. The show's musical director, Chen Qigang, told Beijing Radio that Peiyi was pulled from the show at the last moment, after a senior Politburo member said she did not look the part.
'Cute'
BBC staff in Beijing found that references to the story had been removed from the Beijing Radio website on Wednesday.BBC staff in Beijing found that references to the story had been removed from the Beijing Radio website on Wednesday.
The story was similarly absent from other major news sites, including the China Daily and Xinhua sites - suggesting that Chinese authorities are indeed uncomfortable with the story.The story was similarly absent from other major news sites, including the China Daily and Xinhua sites - suggesting that Chinese authorities are indeed uncomfortable with the story.
Chinese media and websites are policed by the central government, which has frequently censored access to content deemed unflattering or counter to the national interest.Chinese media and websites are policed by the central government, which has frequently censored access to content deemed unflattering or counter to the national interest.
But the story had not been totally expunged from the web, with extensive coverage still remaining on sites such as the Chinese commercial web portal sina.com.But the story had not been totally expunged from the web, with extensive coverage still remaining on sites such as the Chinese commercial web portal sina.com.
Meanwhile, the father of nine-year-old Miaoke told Associated Press he believed Peiyi was also cute. Empty seats
"Yang Peiyi's looks are OK," Lin Hui reportedly said. The miming incident is one of a number of stories thought to have caused some private embarrassment to Olympic organisers.
"In my opinion, she's not ugly. She looks cute." In another disclosure, it was revealed that parts of the footage of the opening ceremony fireworks were pre-produced.
Organisers have also been trying to explain why so many empty seats have been visible at purportedly sold-out events.