BEIJING (AP) — Martial arts student Cheng Jianghua only saw the army barracks he stayed in and the stadium where he performed at the spectacular Olympics opening ceremony. But his sacrifices were minor — other performers were injured, fainted from heatstroke or forced to wear adult diapers so the show could go on.




Cheng and 2,200 other carefully chosen pugilist prodigies spent an average of 16 hours a day, every day, rehearsing a synchronized tai-chi routine involving high kicks, sweeping lunges and swift punches. They lived for three months in trying conditions at a restricted army camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

"We never went out during the time we were training," Cheng, 20, told the AP in a phone interview. "Our school is quite strict. When we stay in school we can't go out on our own, let alone when we're at a military camp."

In the most extreme case, Beijing organizers revealed last week that Liu Yan, a 26-year-old dancer, was seriously injured during a July rehearsal. Shanghai media reported that she fell from a 10-foot stage and may be permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

Zhang, the ceremony's director, visited Liu in the hospital and has told Chinese media that he deeply regrets what happened to her — but he has also defended the training schedule his performers endured.

While in Beijing, the constant exposure to the dizzyingly hot summer resulted in heatstroke for some students, particularly during one rain-drenched rehearsal that stretched on for two days and two nights.

The students were kept on their feet for most of the 51-hour rehearsal with little food and rest and no shelter from the night's downpour, as the show's directors attempted to coordinate the 2,008-member performance with multimedia effects, students and their head coach told the AP.

The show must go on regardless of cost or regard for their own people - this country is so backward it is pathetic, it is sickening...

In China, Humanity isn't a word

sickening

that is great, all that hard work really paid off. the ceremonies were fabulous.

like you really care, little hypocrites are disgusting

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Damn right I do!

To China...Human Life Is Cheap

how you gonna save them? hypocrite?

you responded little one didn't you...hmmm Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!

phony Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!

People are awakenning to all the Chinese Communist tyrannies and horrors all over the world ...where have you been lately?

Awww

No country is perfect when it come to Human rights. Americans killed one million iraqis is proof of this. Whether intentional or not intentional, they died because of the invasion. As for olympic ceremony sacrifices, you don't understand chinese people are willing to make sacrifice for their country, for the 'greater good'. it's voluntary and they take pride of being part of history. Im sure the reheasal injury was an accident and she is compensated well.

China beats out any regime for terror and murder bar none! NONE!o dont try and compare it to divert the topic. Fenqing

Horrific. To sacrifice the lives of innocent people in order to present an image to the outside world is not even human.

I agree 100%. I can not even begin to understand the mentality of the people in charge...

None issue. Accidents can occur anywhere at any time. So, if a stunt man gets injured during Hollywood movie filming, is this a "violation of human rights?" it was unfortunate someone got hurt, but i'm sure the dancer's family got compensated.

I don't think you understand. The chinese government did not put a gun to their people's head to make them perform at Olympic ceremony. they willingly take part of it because of national pride. there is no abuse here. it's voluntary work.

All the corporate interests and the Corrupt IOC

You are either a simpleton or one of natures tragic mistakes... completley reversed on all counts...seery irriot

The tragedy is you probably believe that crap too

drilled fascistically into millions of your little brains

do you have notions of freedom...then sound like it then..borg

Only in China. What a disgrace to the human race.

^ Yes and the sad thing is that country has so many defenders, right here on this forum...

And that's the very reason I stay and post...balance. You are right on. Almost a contingency of fenqing trolls, fresh from indoctrination classes.

Up yours

It is unbelievable how the fenqing on this forum defend EVERYTHING China does, regardless of the human rights abuses, the destruction to the environment, etc. etc. etc.

I'm never quite certain if they believe everything they spout, that they are so completely loyal to the PRC that they are blinded to its problems or if they are simply fulfilling the requirements of the labour and reeducation camps they are quite likely posting from.

I feel it is hypocritical for Whites to accuse China of human rights abuses. Before you accuse others, please take a look at your own track record. Who exterminated Natives? Who seized land from First Nation then make them live in tiny reserves? Who enslaved Blacks for 100 years? Who invented imperialism to expand territorial conquest and political dominance? Who invaded Iraq and killed one million civilians??? Who killed millions of Jews? Not Chinese. When was last time China invaded another nation?

Please don't tell me your planing on "liberate" Chinese people from "oppression" of the chinese government, in doing so, bombing and killing millions of civilians like you did in Iraq. White race has the worst human rights record in the world.

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