Fourth-Place Medal, a Yahoo! Sports blog covering the Summer Olympics in Beijing

Fourth-Place Medal

Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:29 pm EDT

Some Opening Ceremony fireworks were faked

By Chris Chase

If you watched the Opening Ceremony on Friday night, chances are you said something like, "no way that's possible" at least once. It turns out you were right.

London's Telegraph newspaper reports that some of the fireworks which appeared over Beijing during the television broadcast of the Olympic Opening Ceremony were actually computer generated. But -- hold on -- it's not necessarily as bad  as you think.

The faked fireworks were actually set-off at the stadium, but because of potential dangers in filming the display live from a helicopter, viewers at home were shown a pre-recorded, computer-generated shot. It sounds dishonest, but I'm not sure it's such a terrible thing.

The Opening Ceremony is, at its core, just one big performance. And isn't it accepted that some things might not be legit at a performance?  The final torch bearer wasn't actually running around the top of the stadium, does the fact that everyone could figure that out make it any less impressive? It might have been unnecessarily deceptive, but the firework-faking isn't really that big of a deal. But, if I found out that the lighted-drum thing wasn't on the up and up, then we'll have problems, China.

Photo via Getty Images

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12478 Comments

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  1. Amy B
    1. Posted by Amy B Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

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    Awesome Picture!
  2. Bob w
    2. Posted by Bob w Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Awesome pictures but China is accused of faking it!!!! Why am I not surprised?????
  3. me
    3. Posted by me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    What do you mean by "fake"? Look up the dictionary for the definition of "fake". It appears that you are jealous and hence misuse terms just because China put on a gold medal performance!
  4. just someone
    4. Posted by just someone Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:15 pm EDT

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    Thank you, number three, for you saying that! People say that because they're lacking in something and they need to say things about others to make themselves feel better. That's probably how they get through the day, speaking ill of others...
  5. Dane
    5. Posted by Dane Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    haha he said gold medal performance...what a cheesy play on words.Also who cares if it is computer generated for us to see it because there is a good chance none of you guys were willing to pay to see the real thing.
  6. David
    6. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    "...but the firework-faking isn't that big of a deal."
    Okay, then why bother blogging about it at all?
  7. snxr
    7. Posted by snxr Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    We knew that dude wasn't actually running along the edge of the bird's nest but we did not know the fireworks were not all real. Its just so cheezy and typecial of the Chinese government. I just came back to the States after a year there and let me tell you guys, that money could've been put to way better use feeding people and cleaning up other cities other than the one which will host a bunch of foreigners for 2 weeks. No other country can put on such a show because most representative governments cannot in good conscience budget hundreds of millions of dollars for a 2 hour spectacle. While the show was awesome, I couldn't help but think of the many sad sights I saw during my year in China and how many meals that money couldve bought considering you can fill yourself for roughly 50 cents if you wanted to there.
  8. Jingjing fan
    8. Posted by Jingjing fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    hmm.. china doesn't put that much safety planning into there film making. so why did they do it with the olympics
  9. Olym
    9. Posted by Olym Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Hi, as I learned, only couple of "giant feet" (28 steps from outside city to the NET) were pre-recored. All other fireworks were TRUE! - according to a talk in TV with the designer.
  10. TERESITA A
    10. Posted by TERESITA A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    I think the term should be simulated and not faked. But whether simulated or faked, the fireworks were fantastic and China deserves our admiration. As a matter of fact the whole show was awesome, the best I have seen so far. Technology and culture perfectly welded together.
  11. chrisbaerwaldt
    11. Posted by chrisbaerwaldt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    ... I think NASA did the same thing with that whole walking on the moon thing. :-)
  12. Eliza
    12. Posted by Eliza Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    the us is just jealous taht china has more gold medals so far so they post up a stupid short article HAHAH ! & they just scared that china is getting too strong , which is true.
  13. Richie?
    13. Posted by Richie? Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    Don't try to tarnish a wonderful display!!!!!! Fake or not I loved every moment.
  14. Crystalized
    14. Posted by Crystalized Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not the definition of "faked." Enhanced for television viewers might be a better description. Having a headline that says "fireworks were faked" is 1) untrue 2) unncessary
  15. Karen H
    15. Posted by Karen H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    The opening ceremony was a memorable one esp towards the end. "Faked", simulated, digitally enhanced, or whatever, it was a good performance. I was surprised! If anyone of u feel unjustified for any reasons, did u complained when u watch Star Wars the trilogy, or Batman: the Dark Knight? I agree with No. 4 & 6, yes, the fireworks were faked, so what! The tone of your article insinuate that the Chinese cheated everyone! It's their show, it's their money to spend, it's their territory, it's their prerogative! Respect that! Or u think that the chinese can't outdo the west without cheating????
  16. mx
    16. Posted by mx Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:59 pm EDT

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    Stop hating!!! If we can fall in love with Batman Dark Night and blow and we are still amazed with the action then why hate on the Chinese?...Get a life!!
  17. Upaseno
    17. Posted by Upaseno Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    either it is fake or not, can you do it?
  18. Captain Falcon
    18. Posted by Captain Falcon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Fake or not, still an amazing performance!!!!!!!! XD
  19. hopialykit
    19. Posted by hopialykit Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    What's the fuss? I suppose most people who blogged on this fireworks issue also watched movies like The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Batman, Spiderman, even those animated Walt Disney ones and the like. You know that they are fake and not real. But why did you still bother spending time and money to watch them? The answer is it's all for entertainment. They are not intended to deceive you.
  20. hmabear
    20. Posted by hmabear Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:52 pm EDT

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    everyone want to put up a good show, china included. Why is china bashing sooo rampant?
  21. mj
    21. Posted by mj Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    it was an awesome opening. chris chase needs to stop hating and stop making up bad article titles to get attention.
  22. Cool
    22. Posted by Cool Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Thats Fake?
    This is what happen when people get jealous.......
    Total BS. Out of what i know,
    China spent the 4 times more money for the Olympic than in Athens.....
    So how can it be fake???
  23. Big Al
    23. Posted by Big Al Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:14 pm EDT

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    It's sad that as good a performance as it was, some journalist wants to nit pick about small, inconsequential things in order to make it seem as though it wasn't as spectacular as most individuals perceived it to be.
  24. harryo
    24. Posted by harryo Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    once again...the ugly american rears its head
  25. Handsome Pete
    25. Posted by Handsome Pete Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    #7 - I agree with you completely. But this is not a problem just in China. You don't think the US ignores its social problems in the interest of pursuing Olympic golds, hosting Olympic Games, and frivolously spending their money on things that don't matter? That's the problem with the whole WORLD. We're greedy little buggers that care more about temporary entertainment than eternal salvation. Jesus is the way!!!

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