Zhang said his directing team wanted to include a reminder in the opening ceremony of the solidarity Chinese people showed in the aftermath of magnitude 7.9 quake. He said he chose Lin "because he was very small and cute."
"We think having this little boy with a tall Yao Ming symbolizes a giant leading our future generation. I think it's meaningful," he said. source
I am not sure how I feel about using this little boy as propaganda but I was moved by his story.
