Police take dim view of Spartan invasion
Print Edition
Police waded in when a salad store promotion caused a stir in the capital as dozens of Western men dressed as Spartans paraded through Beijing.
Officers were photographed restraining some of them on the ground after claims several had refused to disperse.
About 40 men wearing bronze shorts, arm and leg guards and capes styled after the attire of people in the ancient Greek city of Sparta marched in the capital’s central business district and the Sanlitun shopping area on Wednesday.
Bearing tubs of salads, the bare-chested men attracted crowds of onlookers and posed with women for photos that circulated widely online.
Police were less amused. They dispersed the parade, and photos showed police on top of two of the Spartans who apparently had been wrestled to the ground.
Police said in a statement yesterday that they had to control some “foreigners in short pants” to restore public order. It said the matter was under investigation.
The store, Sweetie Salad, said the stunt to celebrate their first anniversary generated far more interest than expected.
It said store representatives spoke with police to clear up any “misunderstanding.”
“We chose Spartans and invited foreign models who are physically fit simply because we wanted to encourage our customers to pursue the beauty of being healthy,” it said.
The incident follows another that caused upset — a sex video filmed in a Uniqlo fitting room, also in Sanlitun.
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