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Spanish Basketball Photo Disgraces China

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Spain’s Olympic basketball team posed for an advertisement just prior to the Olympic games that is spurring a lot of controversy. The ad which was made for the Chinese footwear manufacturer Li Ning, portrays the Spanish players in a team photo tugging on their faces in order to deliberately slant their eyes, while surrounding a center court outline of a Chinese dragon. 

The Chinese company responsible for the ad has sidestepped the initial outrage, claiming that the photo wasn’t meant to be racist.  Chinese officials are outraged and disheartened by the gesture. The Organization of Chinese-American’s has publicly denounced the ad campaign stating “It is unfortunate that this type of imagery would rear its head during something that is supposed to be a time of world unity”.

The Spanish basketball team defeated China in an 85-75 victory, during which the Chinese crowd continuously booed the Spaniard’s efforts. 

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