Beijing Olympics: Second Spanish team photographed making 'slit-eyed' gesture

**PorkChopSandwiches** · 08-15-2008, 03:57 PM

A second group of Spanish Olympic athletes has been photographed making “slit-eyed” gestures, threatening to overshadow the Beijing Games with a row over racial stereotyping.

By Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 12:37PM BST 15 Aug 2008

The photo was discovered on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation

The latest photo to emerge shows Spanish women tennis players pulling the pose, apparently in anticipation of their Federation Cup match against China in April.

Pictures of the Spanish men’s and women’s basketball teams making the gesture, a crude impersonation of Chinese people, were published in adverts in Spanish newspapers earlier this week.

The photos, which were reprinted around the world, added to Spanish sport's poor reputation for racial sensitivity.

The latest image appears to show players in Spain’s Federation Cup team doing the “slit-eyed” gesture along with members of their support staff. There is no suggestion that they intended to cause offence.

It was apparently taken after the team defeated Italy in the quarter-finals of the competition - the leading team contest for women tennis players - in Febraury. Wine glasses are visible on the table in front of the party.

The Spanish team that defeated the Italians included Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, Nuria Llagostera Vives, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suarez-Navarro.

Llagostera Vives, Medina Garrigues and Suarez-Navarro are all competing at the Games in Beijing.

The photo is still visible on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation, where it was spotted. The original is captioned “Estamos preparados para China”, which translates as “We are prepared for China”.

Spain’s women tennis players defeated the Chinese team in their Federation Cup semi-final in April. The Spanish are due to play Russia in the final in September.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 04:11 PM

Fuckin idiots...

**Meursault** · 08-15-2008, 04:18 PM

spain unfortunately has a deeply rooted culture of everyday racism and homophobia.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 04:23 PM

They're obviously a bunch of rude prats..

**Meursault** · 08-15-2008, 04:30 PM

not in general, they're usually incredibly nice to strangers but somehow they think it's normal to make pretty crass jokes about asians, jews, blacks and arabs. And half their swearwords rotate around insults for gay people. I suppose that'S a consequence of this immature macho thing many of the men there have going on.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 04:34 PM

Insulting the people of the country that are hosting you is a great way to get smacked in the mouth over here..

fricnjay · 08-15-2008, 04:36 PM

Dont we all, I think its just a joke and in good fun. I think people are WAY to sensitive about race especially when dealing with the Olympics. Should they have done it, probably not but its really not that big of deal. Its not like they are burning the Chinese flag and making hateful remarks or threats towards them.

fricnjay · 08-15-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Insulting the people of the country that are hosting you is a great way to get smacked in the mouth over here..

Not likely, will people be a little mad, yes. But freedom of speech protects those people. I am sure at one time or another we have all said or done worse.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 04:37 PM

Its very tasteless..

**Meursault** · 08-15-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Insulting the people of the country that are hosting you is a great way to get smacked in the mouth over here..

The point is, I am pretty certain these people really thought the pics were funny, they had no intention to insult the chinese even though it stands to reason they would feel offended.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fricnjay

Dont we all, I think its just a joke and in good fun. I think people are WAY to sensitive about race especially when dealing with the Olympics. Should they have done it, probably not but its really not that big of deal. Its not like they are burning the Chinese flag and making hateful remarks or threats towards them.

I think it's OK to make jokes using and mocking stereotypes, all this PC crap is way out of line. But in Spain and many other latin countries, I find the everyday culture of racism and homophobia pretty shocking.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meursault

The point is, I am pretty certain these people really thought the pics were funny, they had no intention to insult the chinese even though it stands to reason they would feel offended.

.

They look like the people that bring me salsa and chips every Wednesday...

fricnjay · 08-15-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meursault

The point is, I am pretty certain these people really thought the pics were funny, they had no intention to insult the chinese even though it stands to reason they would feel offended.

I think it's OK to make jokes using and mocking stereotypes, all this PC crap is way out of line. But in Spain and many other latin countries, I find the everyday culture of racism and homophobia pretty shocking.

I dont know many Spaniards but I do know some people from other Latin countries (not Mexico) that are the same way. Very proud people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

They look like the people that bring me salsa and chips every Wednesday...

Exactly my point.

**PorkChopSandwiches** · 08-15-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

They look like the people that bring me salsa and chips every Wednesday...

Hahahahah, now you're just as bad.

**Harpoon** · 08-15-2008, 05:35 PM

I was just giving an eye for an eye..

**PorkChopSandwiches** · 08-15-2008, 05:36 PM

hahaha, eye!

08-15-2008, 03:57 PM	#1
PorkChopSandwiches Whore McGillicutty Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Online Posts: 50,257 Thanks: 4 Thanked 288 Times in 128 Posts	Beijing Olympics: Second Spanish team photographed making 'slit-eyed' gesture A second group of Spanish Olympic athletes has been photographed making “slit-eyed” gestures, threatening to overshadow the Beijing Games with a row over racial stereotyping. By Matthew Moore Last Updated: 12:37PM BST 15 Aug 2008 The photo was discovered on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation The latest photo to emerge shows Spanish women tennis players pulling the pose, apparently in anticipation of their Federation Cup match against China in April. Pictures of the Spanish men’s and women’s basketball teams making the gesture, a crude impersonation of Chinese people, were published in adverts in Spanish newspapers earlier this week. The photos, which were reprinted around the world, added to Spanish sport's poor reputation for racial sensitivity. The latest image appears to show players in Spain’s Federation Cup team doing the “slit-eyed” gesture along with members of their support staff. There is no suggestion that they intended to cause offence. It was apparently taken after the team defeated Italy in the quarter-finals of the competition - the leading team contest for women tennis players - in Febraury. Wine glasses are visible on the table in front of the party. The Spanish team that defeated the Italians included Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, Nuria Llagostera Vives, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suarez-Navarro. Llagostera Vives, Medina Garrigues and Suarez-Navarro are all competing at the Games in Beijing. The photo is still visible on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation, where it was spotted. The original is captioned “Estamos preparados para China”, which translates as “We are prepared for China”. Spain’s women tennis players defeated the Chinese team in their Federation Cup semi-final in April. The Spanish are due to play Russia in the final in September. __________________ A Teabelly Original Visit the team PORKCHOP Comic Strip

08-15-2008, 04:11 PM	#2
Harpoon Blankety Blank Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 35,278 Thanks: 45 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Fuckin idiots... __________________ .

08-15-2008, 04:18 PM	#3
Meursault Gimme Shelter Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Old Europe Posts: 37,358 Thanks: 137 Thanked 89 Times in 35 Posts	spain unfortunately has a deeply rooted culture of everyday racism and homophobia. __________________ sick sig courtesy of fricnjay!

08-15-2008, 04:23 PM	#4
Harpoon Blankety Blank Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 35,278 Thanks: 45 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	They're obviously a bunch of rude prats.. __________________ .

08-15-2008, 04:30 PM	#5
Meursault Gimme Shelter Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Old Europe Posts: 37,358 Thanks: 137 Thanked 89 Times in 35 Posts	not in general, they're usually incredibly nice to strangers but somehow they think it's normal to make pretty crass jokes about asians, jews, blacks and arabs. And half their swearwords rotate around insults for gay people. I suppose that'S a consequence of this immature macho thing many of the men there have going on. __________________ sick sig courtesy of fricnjay!

08-15-2008, 04:34 PM	#6
Harpoon Blankety Blank Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 35,278 Thanks: 45 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Insulting the people of the country that are hosting you is a great way to get smacked in the mouth over here.. __________________ .

08-15-2008, 04:37 PM	#9
Harpoon Blankety Blank Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 35,278 Thanks: 45 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Its very tasteless.. __________________ .

08-15-2008, 05:35 PM	#14
Harpoon Blankety Blank Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 35,278 Thanks: 45 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I was just giving an eye for an eye.. __________________ .

08-15-2008, 05:36 PM	#15
PorkChopSandwiches Whore McGillicutty Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Online Posts: 50,257 Thanks: 4 Thanked 288 Times in 128 Posts	hahaha, eye! __________________ A Teabelly Original Visit the team PORKCHOP Comic Strip

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