this is an AP’s article that cites the reaction from the parents, coach and others… and says that age problems have been an issue since the 1980s:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hi4rzBxgMTM92A9p57rUG_iBvQXAD92NEFQ80

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/1259253

Apparently the original documents submitted by the Chinese General Administration of Sport authenticating the age of a number of the gymnasts, who went on to win gold medals last week, show different (younger) ages than what today’s versions of these documents show. These documents were wiped from official web sites, but original copies were left behind in the caches of search engines. (Search engine caches often aren’t censored as immediately as other things on the Internet in China).

Here is an explanation:
http://strydehax.blogspot.com/

Now, if this is true (I note that the blog describing all of this was created yesterday, and has only one post — this one), it is potentially empowering to think what one person with an Internet connection anywhere in the world can unearth about attempts to alter official documents. And if it isn’t true — it is interesting to note how much havoc and disinformation one person with an Internet connection anywhere in the world can wreak by questioning the accuracy of official government documents.

Please note that this comment isn’t meant to be about China per se; this specific example cited here just happens to come from there and is relevant to the title of your post, which is why I used it.

No matter who and how mighty you are, when you place your foot in the digital sand, it is becoming increasingly tough for the tide to fully erase it, no matter how strong or powerful the wave.

A good interdisciplinary study on China and myriad emerging issues, including governance is at http://www.nytimes.com/ref/college/coll-china-about.html

(ii) a Chinese blogger complaining that he was censored after another citizen denoun
ced him to the authorities. http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20071130_1.htm

The second example shows that civil society in China still needs to play a more important role, although we should recognize that it’s gaining momentum if we think about how things were several years ago.

However, let’s not put all the blame of censorship and control of information in China. This is something that also happens in other places of the world, where freedom of speech and free media are preached. In these countries, information might not be censored, but it is sometimes “oriented.” An example related to the Olympics is the opening ceremony broadcast in the US. Besides the fact that the broadcast was delayed in name of profits, it had a particular color tint filtering, with several comments that either despised the capacity and relevance of some delegations or made judgments about the quality their political leaders, governments and situation.

Although, the examples mentioned are just a few, my point is that the issue of censorship is not only about what is banned but also about how the published information is being used and oriented. Definitely, active citizens have fewer options in China than in other countries. But common citizens (more passive on average) may sometimes receive similar filtered or oriented information as people in China.

The Internet should be a medium for the freedom of expression, not a tool for the government’s repression of its people.

http://uncensor.com.au/uncensor/

Did you see the students and Journalist beaten
at the Free Tibet deonstration? Did you know
that poor peoples homes were demolished to
build stadiums? Where are those people now?