Chinese Media Hit Back Over 'Hypocritical' Response to Chinese-Made Olympic Uniforms
Chinese media has responded to the controversy surrounding the U.S Olympic uniforms being made in China by accusing U.S. lawmakers complaining about the decision of being "hypocritical" and "irresponsible."
"The Olympics spirit is all about separating sports from politics, but these U.S. politicians are going too far and trying to force a political tag onto the uniforms," expressed Xinhua News Agency.
The Chinese media suggested that there is no particular importance in the fact the American uniforms are being manufactured in China rather than the U.S., and even said U.S. politicians complaining over the decision should be banned from 'wearing anything or using any product' that was made abroad," Reuters reported.
"If there is anything that should be burned, it should really be the hypocrisy of the U.S. politics," the news agency added, citing U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid's suggestion that the China-made uniforms be burned.
The news agency noted that American uniforms had been made in China in the past as well – and proposed that it was the election year frenzy gripping America that prompted such an outcry from patriotic-minded members of the public questioning why the task wasn't left to U.S. manufacturers.
The made-in-China labels were originally discovered by ABC News, who looked into the red, white and blue uniforms crafted by U.S designer Ralph Lauren.
Some U.S. fashion designers, like Nanette Lepore, also asked why the American athletes should not be given a fully American experience by wearing U.S.-made uniforms at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
"Why shouldn't we have pride not only in the American athletes, but in the American manufacturers and laborers who are the backbone of our country?" Lepore asked. "Why? What's wrong? Why was that not a consideration?"
"The U.S. Olympic team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company," the U.S. Olympic Committee officially responded in light of the controversy.
The story also sparked a number of responses from American readers, with many citing "corporate greed" as the reason why the U.S. committee is outsourcing these jobs to China.
