Pig-tailed Lin Miaoke was one of Friday evening's most indelible images: A lone child, fireworks blazing overhead, singing the patriotic 'Ode to the Motherland' before an estimated one billion viewers.

But she was there only because the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party decided at the last minute that the girl - seven-year-old Yang Peiyi - to whom the voice belonged was not cute enough because of her uneven teeth.

'It was for the national interest,' explained Chen Qigang, general music designer of the opening ceremony. 'The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression.'

The organisers earlier admitted that one sequence of the stunning fireworks shown on television was actually created using digitally-enhanced computer graphics for 'theatrical effect'.

There was outrage all around. It was especially heated over the cold calculation used to appraise the girls.

Online user Weirderhua commented: 'What we need is truth, not some fake loveliness! I hope the kids will not be hurt. This is not their fault.'

But China's meticulous preparations are paying off in other ways.

For months, officials were worried that Chinese fans would jeer athletes from countries deemed 'unfriendly'. They went as far as to draft 210,000 retired state employees and teach local fans the right way to hoot and holler.

The Chinese have thus far displayed enthusiasm in cheering their favourite and other countries' athletes.

The hosts had more reasons to smile yesterday as their bag of gold medals got bigger. They won diving, fencing, gymnastics and weightlifting titles.

China continue to top the standings with 13 golds. The US are next with seven. South Korea are third with five.

However, China have one concern. Despite boasts that all 6.8 million tickets have been sold, the organisers yesterday acknowledged that volunteers have been filling the thousands of empty seats.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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