August 12, 2008 Olympic officials admit series of illusions Play video

(NECN) - The Beijing Olympics may have a potential television audience of four billion people, but viewers may not be able to trust their own eyes. Games organizers have admitted a series of illusions, including a pre-taped fireworks segment and lip-syncing during the opening ceremony, and the use of cheerleaders to fill empty stadium seats.

Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games (BOCOG) vice-president Wang Wei confirmed on Tuesday broadcasters were supplied tape of the "footprint" fireworks during the "live" opening extravaganza.

In the sequence, 29 footprint-shaped fireworks "walked" across the city skyline from Tiananmen Square towards the National Stadium.

"On the day of the ceremony there were actual footprint fireworks from the south to the north of the city. However, because of poor visibility on the night, some previously recorded footage may have been used," Wang Wei said.

The local Beijing Times newspaper quoted the head of the ceremony's visual effects team, Gao Xiaolong, as saying a 55-second sequence was digitally recreated, as it was impossible to film by helicopter.

Wang Wei did not confirm if the tape contained special effects.

However during the live broadcast of the ceremony in the United States, NBC commentator Matt Lauer inferred it had been digitally enhanced.

"You're looking at a cinematic device employed by (director) Zhang Yimou here. This is actually almost animation," Lauer told viewers, according

BOCOG also confirmed venue managers were using volunteer cheerleaders to fill empty seats in stadiums.

Australian Olympic officials have criticized the number of seats left empty - many reserved for members of the "Olympic family" and corporate sponsors.

They say athletes' families have been unable to obtain tickets for some events, while seats sit unused.

In another example of the lengths Beijing has taken to project a perfect image, a 7-year-old girl was replaced after officials deemed her face was "not suitable" for the opening ceremony.

The ceremony's chief music director Chen Qigang claimed on Beijing Radio the change was ordered by a member of China's Politburo.

Instead, an older girl with a perfect smile lip-synced the words to "Ode to the Motherland," which had been recorded by the youngster.