The young girl who lip-synced during the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony was Lin Miaoke. At the Beijing ceremony on August 8, 2008, she appeared onstage performing “Ode to the Motherland.”
The incident became an international controversy when organizers acknowledged that Lin's performance was mimed to a prerecorded vocal by another child, Yang Peiyi. Lin was nine years old, while Yang was seven. Officials said the decision was made because Lin was considered more suitable for the televised presentation, while Yang's voice was used for the singing.
A frequent mix-up is calling the song China's national anthem. “Ode to the Motherland” is a patriotic song sometimes described as a “second national anthem,” but it is not the official national anthem, “March of the Volunteers.” Lin Miaoke was the visible performer; Yang Peiyi supplied the recorded voice heard by the audience.