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Olympic Opening Ceremony Fireworks Were (Partly) Faked

A complete newb writes "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." To me, the reasoning behind the faked display is no consolation or excuse — it seems hard to swallow that NBC was unaware of this televised deception. I'm glad that it was good-naturedly "revealed" this weekend (according to that Telegraph article), but it's disheartening that such a large crowd can watch (in person, and around the world) such a display and have no reason to realize they've been duped. What about when weightier events are at issue? There's also a slightly more detailed story at sky.com.

18 of 488 comments (clear)

  1. So what... by geeper · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...my wife fakes her fireworks all the time and it doesn't bother me.

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    1. Re:So what... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Your what?

    2. Re:So what... by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...fakes her fireworks all the time and it doesn't bother me.

      I'm trying to find a way to do the same in return. I got the visuals working via CGI, but the rest is still lacking.
           

  2. Slippery slope, fallacy or harbinger of doom? by biryokumaru · · Score: 4, Funny

    In other news, last year's Super Bowl was actually two guys playing Madden '08.

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    1. Re:Slippery slope, fallacy or harbinger of doom? by CaptainPatent · · Score: 3, Funny

      In other news, last year's Super Bowl was actually two guys playing Madden '08.

      Yeah, sorry about the Patriots guys...

      My wife wouldn't stop nagging me to "stop playing that stupid game."

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      Well, back to rejecting software patent applications.
  3. How about this by davmoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    To me, the reasoning behind the faked display is no consolation or excuse

    Then next time, Timothy, we'll let you fly the helicopter while fireworks are being shot at it.

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  4. Re:Yeah, no kidding. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... and the stabbing incident - those too are also news but hopefully people get the point.)

    Now that was uncalled for (emphasis added for emphasis).

  5. Re:Only a small part looked simulated by gnick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Libya's flag has been upside down every time I've ever seen it - They must be a very distraught country.

    Japan seems to be pretty panicky too...

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  6. So that explains... by jhsiao · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the coziness between China and Iran. China shares advanced missile technology with Iran who reciprocates with advanced computer-generated rocket-launch capability.

  7. Re:Only a small part looked simulated by goombah99 · · Score: 2, Funny

    One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

    Hey if they can fake a moon landing why are people upset about some fireworks.

    If the fireworks are tape delayed anyhow, exactly what is is about them being "live" that makes them better than CG.

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  8. Re:Fireworks on TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Personally, I want to feel the bang, ...

    Cue "The Office" jokes..."that's what she said"

  9. Fake? by FooBarWidget · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wah, wah, OMG OMG the fireworks are fake. Cry me a river.

  10. The definition of ironic by Lucas123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ironic Pronunciation: \-rä-nik also i-rä-\ Function: adjective Date: 1576 1: relating to, containing, or constituting irony 2: given to irony 3: China, the inventor of fireworks, faking fireworks at the opening ceremony of the Olympics

  11. Re:Yeah, no kidding. by gnick · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now that was uncalled for (emphasis added for emphasis).

    Oh! So that's why you add emphasis.

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    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  12. Maybe the computing power required by WormholeFiend · · Score: 2, Funny
  13. Not the first Olympic fake-out by sjonke · · Score: 3, Funny

    The first Olympic fake-out was back at Olympics 776 BC. In 720 BC it was discovered that olympian Ephorus Pausanias was actually wearing "artistically enhanced" tights.

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  14. Re:Only a small part looked simulated by phatmonkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    The blocks were for real - I noticed one of the blocks standing up out of time. I doubt a computer would make that mistake!

  15. Re:Only a small part looked simulated by telso · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not only that: I hear that when Poles get distressed, they go to Monaco. Must be the gambling, the cure for all distress (I hear James Bond is actually a Pole).