State workers' branded jogging strip stirs up anger
By Dong Zhen |
November 3, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RESIDENTS of south China's Shenzhen City have complained that hundreds of public servants took part in a jogging contest wearing publicly-funded, high-price, branded sports outfits.
More than 1,500 public servants and government officials from about 20 government departments joined Shenzhen residents in a public run on Tuesday. People complained their branded sportswear was a waste of taxpayers' money.
The event was initiated by the Shenzhen government and was aimed at encouraging citizens to engage in daily sport.
However, city authorities did not anticipate that media pictures and witness accounts would trigger criticism of what government workers were wearing.
While many individual participants and company runners chose plain T-shirts, teams representing government departments displayed famous sports brands.
Some agencies wore Nike outfits while others opted for brands such as Adidas and Kappa.
Residents claimed the outfits amounted to an abuse of taxpayers' money. "It is a form of unnecessary benefit for public servants," a resident, surnamed Zheng, told Southern Metropolis Daily.
A participant, surnamed Chen, said: "It is a one-day event and not a professional sport. The aim is to encourage more to take part in sports. People wearing branded sports outfits is too luxurious."
Public servants taking part in the event told the newspaper the "uniform sports outfit is meant to raise morale."
A government agency said it bought about 40 Adidas jogging outfits at a 70 percent discount, each costing about 400 yuan each.
Other departments contacted by Shenzhen media refused to say how much their outfits cost.
The event has been held annually since 1980. Some public servants confirmed they had been given a new branded outfit each year recently.
More than 1,500 public servants and government officials from about 20 government departments joined Shenzhen residents in a public run on Tuesday. People complained their branded sportswear was a waste of taxpayers' money.
The event was initiated by the Shenzhen government and was aimed at encouraging citizens to engage in daily sport.
However, city authorities did not anticipate that media pictures and witness accounts would trigger criticism of what government workers were wearing.
While many individual participants and company runners chose plain T-shirts, teams representing government departments displayed famous sports brands.
Some agencies wore Nike outfits while others opted for brands such as Adidas and Kappa.
Residents claimed the outfits amounted to an abuse of taxpayers' money. "It is a form of unnecessary benefit for public servants," a resident, surnamed Zheng, told Southern Metropolis Daily.
A participant, surnamed Chen, said: "It is a one-day event and not a professional sport. The aim is to encourage more to take part in sports. People wearing branded sports outfits is too luxurious."
Public servants taking part in the event told the newspaper the "uniform sports outfit is meant to raise morale."
A government agency said it bought about 40 Adidas jogging outfits at a 70 percent discount, each costing about 400 yuan each.
Other departments contacted by Shenzhen media refused to say how much their outfits cost.
The event has been held annually since 1980. Some public servants confirmed they had been given a new branded outfit each year recently.
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