"Parts of the spectacular Beijing Olympics opening ceremony were faked amid fears that the special effects might fail, it has emerged. Millions of people around the world watched a series of 29 giant footprints created by fireworks ...But a Chinese newspaper revealed yesterday that the images were in part prepared well in advance by computer graphics because organizers feared they would not be able to fully capture them from the air during live filming.

"The graphics were created over a period of almost a year and inserted into the coverage electronically at exactly the right moment just in case the fireworks failed, according to the Beijing Times. Gao Xiaolong, head of the visual effects team for the ceremony, said: 'Most of the audience thought it was filmed live - so that was mission accomplished.' "

See also "Fake feet trip up Olympic opening coverage: Made in China games better than reality" by John Oates, The Register