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Peter Simpson

You know what made the  IOC's  Games executive director, Gilbert Felli, the successful man he is today.
He is obviously an A-perfect plus and gold star high achiever from the school of hard knocks.
And judging by  his take on the fake opening ceremony singer scandal, he now appears to be the ruthless headmaster of said establishment. It takes an extra sharp scythe and fine technique to cut the mustard with Mr Felli.
Expect no comfort for life's letdowns from him. You'll get zero compassion for the rejections and ego-destroying disappointment, and zilch empathy for self-worth-obliterating snubs from lovers, bosses, friends, strangers - even China's Communist Party.
You want to be an Olympian - you wish to take part in the Games? Sure, you can imagine him saying to his pupils. Try. Train hard. Eat right, sleep right. Attitude is essential, dedication vital.
Even then, have you got the raw talent? he might ask a young hopeful. Do you shine above the rest? Can you sing like a songbird on the first dawn of spring?
Sorry, what's that you say? You made the team trials and broke a world record? You came first in  every competition this season? You are the fastest, strongest, highest by a mile?
Good for you. But how are your teeth? Oh dear, a little wonky, I see. Umm, and those eyes - they don't really sparkle, do they, more like two raisins on a piece of mouldy white bread, if you ask me.
Tut-tut. And what's this? I know you describe your look as moon-faced, but in my book, that's what I call plain ugly, chubby.
You can imagine Felli stamping the application outlining a youngster's dream with a fat red 'Rejection'.
You might well look at him with those sad eyes, pleading for a second chance - an appeal ... sympathy ... understanding with a sniffle. But you'd be wasting your time, and his.
Felli will remind you (and all seven year olds and under, we can only assume): 'As in life, as in sport.'
That's how he yesterday summed up the last-minute substitution of ugly kid and human lark Yang Peiyi, for the cherubic but tone deaf Lin Miaoke for the opening ceremony song.
He likened the scandal to a sporting coach's choice to put a player on the bench so another could take the field. 'I think maybe on this one some people would believe that maybe it was not appropriate, but the others would have said it's fantastic because the performance was great,' he said.
'You can have different opinions, but sport is exactly the same.
'If your son is playing on a football team, suddenly the coach may decide that he's not playing, he's going to stay on the bench,' he explained matter of factly.
'That's what it is in sport and in life.'
He also used rowing as a simile, suggesting that to propel the skiff forward quickly, the weakest paddler must walk the plank and make way for stronger crew.
This may be so. But Yang is not an athlete. She is a seven-year-old girl who, we imagine, just wants to be like other girls her age, and perhaps enjoy the promised dream of showing off her rare talent.
Each Games is supposed to strive to be better than the last. To what extent must London use the airbrush China has used in the quest for that unattainable human goal, 'perfection'?
Are we to see DNA sampling, cosmetic surgery or bodily transplants? Perhaps Locog will use the transfer of knowledge when this Games ends (including false fireworks software) and come up with a hologram of a Barbie doll, who squeaks God Save the Queen in perfect, clipped, upper-class tones on opening night.
Cultural differences are a worn excuse, and we have to believe the state media when they reported the best child singer in China took the knock of failure because of her looks on her double chin.
She said through a crooked smile it was all worth it for the honour of the motherland.
Her parents nodded in agreement, filled no doubt with a degree of paranoia that reflects the deep insecurities among the Zhongnanhai set about how these Olympics must reflect perfection.
For parents elsewhere (and there is an elsewhere) there is an urge to wish upon those artistic directors who toady to the senior officials a few hours of root canal treatment.
As for Felli, he should in the first instance apologise to Yang and children 'elsewhere' for his callous remarks - those that suggest parents should set their moral guidance to their offspring along the same lines as his and the masters who rule China's strict central sports system with a big stick and cold heart.
To his credit, he did suggest it was right to expose the lie.
But he should keep his own brand of morale boosting and confidence building for minors private too.
The number of people, in billions, who watched the opening ceremony: 4



Child pays the price as compassion takes a back seat in bid for perfection