A dancer rehearsing for the Olympics Opening Ceremony was seriously injured in a fall during rehearsals and may be paralyzed for life, according to a report in the New York Times:
The organizers of the opening ceremonies seemed intent on keeping the injury from detracting from the pageantry of the event. They initially asked witnesses and friends not to disclose the tragedy ahead of the elaborate production last Friday that showcased China’s prominence on the world stage, according to people who have visited the dancer in the hospital.
But after an inquiry from The New York Times about the injury and rumors about it on the Internet, members of the Beijing Olympic Committee visited the dancer in the hospital with a television crew, and said they would do everything possible to help her. They also announced that they would soon hold a press conference to offer more details about her condition, according to family members.
See also this translation from Danwei of coverage of the accident in the Chinese media.
