The children wearing traditional costumes representing the unity of China’s 56 ethnic groups at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games were all members of the Han Chinese majority.

Wang Wei, vice-president of Beijing’s organizing committee, conffirmed news reports, saying the practice was "completely normal."

"It is a tradition ... in China that costumes of the different ethnic groups are worn to symbolize that they live together peacefully and in happiness," he said.

An official guide to the opening said the children came from the 56 ethnic groups. He accused a journalist as being "overly meticulous," who questioned how Han Chinese could portray minority Tibetans or Uighurs.