If you were watching the opening ceremony on NBC at home, you might not have known that the stunning fireworks at its conclusion were actual a computer rendering:

A Sky story Olympic Fireworks Faked For TV indicates that the CG fireworks were only shown to TV viewers for a limited 25-30s segment, and only internationally. The NBC footage, shot live, shows the actual fireworks that were simultaneously occurring:

The global television audience of more than three billion people watched in amazement as a series of giant footprints outlined in fireworks proceeded through the night sky from Tiananmen Square to the Bird’s Nest stadium - except they were watching a computer animation. Even the giant television screens within the stadium itself broadcast the fake images.

The dupe was revealed by China’s Beijing Times. Speaking to the paper, the man responsible for the animation said he was pleased with the result. “Seeing how it worked out, it was still a bit too bright compared to the actual fireworks,” Gao Xiaolong told the newspaper. “But most of the audience thought it was filmed live - so that was mission accomplished.”

Next, we read how the Beijing Olympics committee used a 9 year old body double (Lin Miaoke) to lipsync Ode to the Motherland, which was actually sung by 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who wasn’t cute enough for the ceremony itself:

“The national interest requires that the girl should have good looks and a good grasp of the song and look good on screen,” Chen said. “Lin Miaoke was the best in this. And Yang Peiyi’s voice was the most outstanding.”

During a live rehearsal soon before the ceremony, the Politburo member said Miaoke’s voice “must change,” Chen said in the radio interview. He didn’t name the official. So Peiyi’s voice was matched with Miaoke’s face. “We had to make that choice. It was fair both for Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi,” Chen told Beijing Radio. “We combined the perfect voice and the perfect performance.”

Poor Yang Peiyi, she must feel quite let down to not actually get to perform the song she sung for the opening ceremony. Besides the fireworks, song, there’s also a nice BSOD (yay Windows) that must have embarassed Bill Gates (who attended the games), and empty stadiums, in spite of officially having sold out all the events.

Still, the games appear to be an ongoing success. I can attest, watching the olympics opening myself, in spite of whatever technical tweaks Beijing pulled to get it to work smoothly, it felt natural, genuine, and honest. I personally enjoyed it–like good magic, you really don’t want to know what nuts and bolts made the trick. Just sit back and continue to let the Beijing 2008 experience take you away!