The "International Chinese Vocal Competition" hyped by Falun Gong media was finally open on October 15. The articles in Falun Gong media all described this "vocal competition" as "full of joy" and "sea of happiness". The Falun Gong hypers even attempted to catch eyes with titles such as "Qualifying Matches of Vocal Competition Ended, Participants Highly Praised International Level" and "Qualifying Match of Female Bel Canto Ended, Judges Declared High Level".
What is the fact then?
First, the number of the participants was so small that it could be regarded as "international level". After the "International Chinese Classical Dance Competition", Falun Gong organization hurriedly popped up the "pot of the world" of the "International Chinese Vocal Competition", trying to save its face in making the "dance competition" into "half-cooked congee". The reason for the author to call the "dance competition" a pot of "half-cooked congee" is that Falun Gong organization planned to start in early May, but as there were little people to attend, it had to put it off and just to wait. But when it started in July, there were still less than 100 participators. Similarly, in this Vocal Competition claimed to be of "worldwide Chinese", according to the Falun Gong media, there are only about 100 participants from about 20 countries. Isn't it another pot of "limpid congee" like "Dance Competition"?
Last time, in all the Falun Gong media, the largest number of the participants of the "dance competition" was 98. This time, 94 was the biggest number. While the author was doubting the mathematical capability of those hypers for making errors with such a small number, a report entitled "President of NTDTV: Dance Competition up to Expectation" written by Wu Ruirui, reporter of the Epoch Times of Falun Gong, revealed the authoritative answer for the mystery of the number of participants: "At first, more than a hundred contestants applied, but due to various reason, not obtaining visa for instance, some contestants could not come to New York for the contest."
Again there were fewer than 100 participants, with the number appearing in the news report 4 fewer than that of the "dance competition". Is it really to be called "international level"?
Second, the fake goods and false price could be regarded as "international level". In order to upgrade its level and expand influence, Falun Gong media boasted with all their effort on the contestants and their singing capability. Before the starting of the contest, the Epoch Times reporter Xin Fei boasted in the report that "this world-level vocal competition of Chinese is unprecedented. Most of the contestants that have signed up are singers of international level."
Today, in the news report of the same crying Epoch Times reporter Wu Ruirui, traces may also be found. According to Lan Yeliu, judge of the contest and singer, some of the contestants for this contest sing in German, some sing in French, some sing in Italian, and some sing in Chinese. In Europe, usually French songs will only be sung at the contest held in France, and only operas of Mozart for Mozart contest and operas of Puccini for Puccini contest with designated repertoire.
It seems that even the judges were impressed by such a contest whose name fell short of the reality. His following words were just like a stabber in the balloon that Falun Gong had blown up:"If the final winners of the contest are to hold a concert in the west, they will be as good as western artists, and the concert will certainly be a very professional one."
Besides, Li Cong, president of NTDTV of Falun Gong, swore that "The 'International Chinese Vocal Competition' is the continuation of the dance competition and the NTDTV evening party. Our purpose is to show the audience the connotation of culture of pure truth, pure compassion, and pure beauty in the orthodox culture of the 5,000 years of history of China by means of art." How could the contestants singing in German, French, and Italian reveal the "pure truth, pure compassion, and pure beauty in the orthodox culture of the 5,000 years of history of China"?
Therefore, the "International Chinese Vocal Competition" organized by Falun Gong is fake and false in every aspect, which is indeed up to "international level".
Moreover, its money-losing operation is also of "international level". Despite the fact that "master Li" and his Falun Gong organization cheated followers for money with ease, the trick does not work anymore. The "dance competition" lost money, and the "vocal competition" is still experiencing the same.
According to the rules of the contest made by Falun Gong, the contest would be held in four groups: Bel Canto of female and male respectively, and folk singing of female and male respectively. And there would be four gold prizes, four silver prizes, and eight bronze prizes in total, the award money being US$40,000 for gold prizes, US$12,000 for silver prizes, and US$8,000 for bronze prizes. The total sum would be US$60,000.
The application fee for this contest was US$50 (US$10 in the mainland of China) per head. Falun Gong had thrown out the net all over the world. Counted on the rate in the mainland of China, it would have enough money to pay for the prizes as long as it could receive 6,000 applications. Counted on the rate abroad, 1,200 applications would be enough. Falun Gong believed that since it had a "reputation" around the world as well as more than "100 million" of followers, it would earn more than enough anyway.
Unfortunately, the fact that there were only fewer than 100 contestants, and the result that no more than US$5,000 was collected, again let Falun Gong down.
For money-losing business like this, it was claimed by Falun Gong organization that it would go on doing it. If there were not any unspeakable secret behind, doing money-losing business so confidently like Falun Gong would really be of "international level".
So far, the author is filled with admiration that Falun Gong organization is indeed a career established by the "Lord Buddha of the universe". No matter what it does, it would not bring down its reputation. And the author also believes that the several "international levels" listed above are only a corner of the iceberg, for according to Master Li, "what held by NTDTV would be of the world. International contest is an international activity anyway, (master laughed) (audience laughed and applauded), and the prizes won by the winners are international prizes." ( Teaching the "Fa" at the New York Conference, 2007)
We wish that the "contest" of Falun Gong organization would show more "international levels" in the future, adding more fun to the leisure time of our common society.
(Kaiwind, October 17, 2007)
