Some fireworks at Olympic opening ceremony reportedly faked

Monday 11th August, 02:53 PM JST

LONDON —

Parts of the spectacular Beijing Olympics opening ceremony were faked amid fears that the special effects might fail, England’s Daily Mail reported Monday. Millions of people around the world watched a series of 29 giant footprints created by fireworks making their way to the Bird’s Nest National Stadium from Tiananmen Square during a dramatic drummed countdown.

According to the Daily Mail, images were in part prepared well in advance by computer graphics because organizers feared they would not be able to fully capture them from the air during live filming.

The Beijing Times on Sunday also reported that the graphics were created over a period of almost a year and inserted into the coverage electronically at exactly the right moment just in case the fireworks failed.

Gao Xiaolong, head of the visual effects team for the ceremony, said: “Most of the audience thought it was filmed live - so that was mission accomplished.”

Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

Sarge at 04:01 PM JST - 11th August

This headline is misleading. No fireworks were actually faked. Anyone who was there saw the real thing. Some parts of the TV broadcast was computer generated.

"mission accomplished"

Har!
wanderlust at 04:02 PM JST - 11th August

Weren't gunpowder, fireworks and rockets invented in China?

So besides fake pharmaceuticals, fake software, fake watches and fake designer handbags, China now fakes its own inventions!
PerdidoEnTokyo at 04:15 PM JST - 11th August

... China now fakes its own inventions!

Hilarious! LOL!!!
gogogo at 05:12 PM JST - 11th August

That is so bad!
cwhite at 08:53 PM JST - 11th August

well you can't fake the actual fireworks (even if it didn't turn out exactly how they wanted it to be), but they did insert, delete, mix, modify, manipulate and trick TV watchers which to me is just typical of a fake live broadcast (especially with "LIVE" in the top right hand corner of the TV set). It goes to show you can't believe even live broadcasts of a supposed sacred sports event. Who cares if the fireworks were slightly off on not up to par, I can't believe one would feel the need to trick TV spectators around the globe just to look good. Go China Go!!
Terrikus at 09:17 PM JST - 11th August

So it seems that actual fireworks DID work, for people that were there, but they inserted a digital image for TV viewers, just in case. Am I getting this right?
adaydream at 10:35 PM JST - 11th August

I'm impressed at the Olympics. They have been enjoyable.

So, some of the celebration were computer generated.

Okay, I still enjoyed it. < :-)
USNinJapan2 at 10:49 PM JST - 11th August

I for one wish I never found out about this...
yosun at 10:54 PM JST - 11th August

The opening ceremony was a wonderful one no matter "Faked", simulated, or whatever and either it is fake or not, can you do it? Everytime a non West nation did a good job - it was called fake! and if the West did it - it's called something genius idea....
Terrikus at 12:25 AM JST - 12th August

But im still reading this as it was a failsafe measure in case the fireworks didn't work, not that there were not actual fireworks.
OgieDoggie at 01:30 AM JST - 12th August
This only proves that the USA never landed on the moon, only faked it in studio just like China did with their fireworks!
- what's next - the U.S. Presidental Elections in November? Oh wait they already did fake Bush winning over Gore in Florida last time didn't they!
Chessnutroastin at 07:30 AM JST - 12th August

I just knew the "climax," when I was seeing fireworks, was too good to be true.
ambrosia at 11:18 AM JST - 12th August

And this matters because...?
yosun at 10:51 PM JST - 12th August

"And this matters because...?"

This news is from London 'England’s Daily Mail' who begin to worry about 2012 London's opening ceremony .......
cwhite at 01:22 AM JST - 15th August

indeed, if the media think they can do whatever they want, show whatever they want, how they want, when they want (which they already do), but now with even more motives behind, with greater consequences, with more people watching and with no conscience then we just know what they are capable next.