Going into these games, the general consensus was that China could enhance its image during these Olympic games, despite its pervasive human rights violations. But surprisingly, each day that passes makes us think of China as even skeezier than originally thought. First they condemned active apartments and building because they were unsightly, even though people were living and working in them; then came the footsteps fakery; then they did the switch with the cute girl and ugly girl. Now, word has leaked that the women who tried out for the 200 spots in the Opening Ceremonies had to strip for their jobs like they were applying for a job at a Tusla Hooters. At this point, we’re imagining the Chinese Olympic organizers look like bad guys from an 80s Steven Segal movie. Next thing we’ll find out is that the little kids they used in the cerenomy had to sew all the garments, too.

Thousands of young Chinese women applicants for the 200 jobs to lead each country’s athletes into the National Stadium for last week’s opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games had to be at least 1.66 metres tall, have a pretty face - and strip naked for the job recruiters.

The Beijing News, in a story detailing the latest opening-ceremony outrage, said stripping naked for measurements was a requirement merely to apply for the position. Thousands of young women from colleges and dance academies in Beijing competed for the chance to appear before a huge worldwide audience. During the selection process, the women were required to strip so teachers judging whether they were qualified could measure their body proportions…

While we usually never condone the showing of boobage, this is just wrong in the spirit of the Games. This is a time to celebrate the human form, not exploit it for money or fame or to bring pride in your country. (But is okay in this case. And this one. Oh, and this one, too.)

Opening ceremony: The naked truth [Bangkok Post]
Image [Xinhua]