IOC critical of Spanish basketball team ad

BEIJING -- The International Olympic Committee has weighed in on the advertisement featuring the Spanish men's basketball team that some have deemed offensive because it mimics the eyes of Chinese.

"Clearly, it was inappropriate,'' IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said Thursday.

"But we understand the team apologized and the athletes meant no offense whatever. So, as far as we are concerned, the matter rests.''

The ad was for Seur a courier company based in Madrid. The company said it had no plans to pull the ad. But the Times' Bill Plaschke and Mark Heisler both weighed in on the ad earlier.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: A man in Madrid looks at an advertisement that appeared in the Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca featuring Spain's national basketball team members in uniform pulling back the skin on their eyelids, and smiling.  Credit: Miguel Riopa AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[victor]

Nonsense

Only some journalists from UK and US (historically not very good examples of countries against racism) are interested in this issue as a big thing. They take advantage of their position to make as much noise as possible to weaken Madrid in its race as contender in 2016 Olimpic Games. Don´t worry Chicago, this will help.....

[John, Canada]

I simply don't understand how this supposed "joke" is actually funny or amusing.

My opinion of Spain and Spanish people just went down a few notches.

There seems to be an undertone of racism on the part of Spanish team, the company that sponsored the ad, and the people who accept the ad as ok.

This issue isn't just about possible racism but about respect. The gestures are demeaning. So how is that funny? How is that being respectful?

[Pablo G.]

Hay que ser tontos e hipócritas (vosotros y el COI)

[Gonzalo]

It is so simple: US and canadian people worried about a photograph taken by the team of a "little country" regarding China... as if there are not any other issues to worry in the world or in their own countries...
Your friend Goebbles never had done it better.

[a]

let me give an example to the spanish people confused about the offensiveness of this photo: spanish people are generally hairier than an average asian (just like how our eyes are generally smaller than yours). if the chinese basketball team attached gorilla fur to their armpits and did monkey poses, how would you feel? would it placate your anger if we said it was meant in 'friendliness'?

not all asians have slanty eyes, they come in different shapes and sizes like every other race. we don't want a stereotypical gesture simplifying and belittling us, even if the intent was friendly. just pay us the same respect and dignity every country, every race deserves

[pkt]

The Chinese themselves have said they don't consider the ad racist.

The LA Times should be ashamed for trying to stir the fire. Why don't you look into important matters like, I don't know, Iraq and the thousands of civilians MURDERED by the US?. I'm sure they wouldn't have minded if instead of being killed your country had made a stupid gesture to them.

Idiots.

[Carmen Loren]

You USers are manipulable puppets. Learn to think by yourselves.

[mariano]

Here do you have a example of racism:

Posted by david | August 14, 2008 at 08:14 AM . "Pau Gasol - is an example of how effeminate Spanish men are"...attitudes of the people of a small insignificant country. Spain is a non-player on the world scene. They contribute little or nothing to our lifestyle. They are indeed a little country of intolerant children."

If you are so brave what are you doing writing in a chat intestead of ....

[Teresa]

The Chinese in China wouldn't think the ad was racist because they don't know the significance of that racist gesture!! Most of the people who live in China are Chinese, they don't walk around China making that gesture at each other.

Those of us who have had to endure these racist attitudes know the significance of that gesture and are highly offended by it. It shows how ignorant the Spaniards are when instead of apologizing, they are finding every excuse in the book to defend it. That picture does not show any affection by any means. That gesture is used to degrade Asians. If someone took the Spanish flag and spat on it, would you buy it if they then told you that they were kissing your flag????

[Fernando]

Well. Only the press of Anglo-Saxon culture sees racism in these photos. If Chinese and rest of the planet do not feel offended; the one who is going to ask the Spanish for pardon for everything what is said?

[A Lau]

The photo was an intentional offence. The whole basketball team know the meaning of the gesture. That’s why Pau Gasol admitted that some of his teammates found it uncomfortable during the shooting. Maybe I should not blame too much the players as they were paid to do that. But obviously they were too naïve to ignore the damages that would cause to their own reputation and the image of Spain.

I had lived in Spain for 9 years. People outside Spain may not aware that this is not a new gesture invented only for the advertisement. This has been used by some Spanish people to tease the Asian for many years. Being a Chinese, I was shown this gesture even by my Spanish colleague, though he apologized later. Most Spanish, if not all, know the intention of this gesture. Just ask any Spanish kids if they know this gesture and under what circumstances they will show this to their Asian schoolmates.

However, I do not agree there is an element of racism in Spanish culture. Indeed I have many good Spanish friends. Unfortunately, as in almost every country, there are always some people who do not respect the other cultures or races.

I understand the Spanish people here trying to defend their culture. But it’s no point to defend the photo. All my Asian friends in Spain and I can tell you our experience there, in particular our kids. We know very well the intention of the people who show us this gesture. If you and your kids would like to use the excuse of just making fun, then from now on, you should know this is an offence to the Asian people and just stop it forever.

By the way, the comment from the Chinese Embassy in Spain is not a good reference as their comment is always determined by politics rather than the truth.

So please don’t use this as an excuse to cover up the problem in Spain. To defend the Spanish culture, I would suggest starting to tell your kids to never mock the appearance and gesture of other races and letting them understand that this maybe an offence to other people.

[Asian Lakers Fan]

I think I understand both sides. I can accept that the Spanish team did not INTEND to offend Asians around the world. Concerning some of the people of Spain commenting here and for Gasol's comments, they are way off the mark. To say that it is "absurd" that the picture wasn't offensive is purely being oblivious to how derogatory comments/pictures work. Gasol may have meant that it is "absurd" that he MEANT the picture to be offensive, but the real question is, are Asians offended. Imagine what would happen if the Olympics were in Africa and the Spanish team painted their faces black, or the games were in Israel and everyone wore fake big noses. According to Spanish logic it would be "absurd" that the picture isn't offensive, even if they didn't mean it to be offensive.

The comment about the chinese embassy in Spain is not the best place to ask to know if the picture was offensive. why? Because embassies are concerned about politics, and a picture is not worth political consequences. Ask the normal Asian, Asian-American, Asian-British, etc, and you may get a better gauge on how offensive the picture is. I have mixed feelings. I love Gasol as a player, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I respect his game, and I think he's intelligent, but I don't think he's very wise, or at the very least, he's not very culturally sensitive. I'm also thinking of throwing away my Gasol Lakers jersey.

[DT]

I agree with Asian Lakers Fan and A Lau 100%. I really do not believe that what the team did was a 'kind' gesture towards the Chinese. That's absurd. Only a child or a moron would believe that. I've never been to Spain, but I've been to enough foreign countries and have had that gesture made to me to know exactly what the person intends when they make that gesture. So give me a break!

And Fernando, as an Asian, I definitely do feel offended, and 100% of my Asian friends and family members feel very offended.

I can't wait to see the US team pound Spain and that sissy Gasol into the ground. I'm going to love every second of it. Losers!

[fernando]

Hello, here Fernando. I am not Asian. I am Spanish. I hope that you recover of your dislexía. On the other hand, I hope that every second grows a bit more your brain. Racist, violent, and fascist Anglo-Saxons

[Cina]

Spaniards,

1) There is a racist history against asians and many people of color in many countries. In the US, this gesture was meant to taunt and ridicule those of asian descent from the time they were alienated in elementary schools to the behind-the-scenes glass ceilings they face in the workplace. Asian americans have very legitimate reasons to be disturbed by the feelings this "mocking" action evokes.

2) It is not the domain of the offender to determine if their actions were offensive. They do however have the choice on whether or not to attempt to understand the position of the minority and show a little compassion to another's point of view.

3) A NON-apology says "i'm sorry IF you were offended" A real apology is: I was not aware that my actions would be construed this way, but now that I have been made aware of the culutural context, I apologize for it and will try not make this mistake again." There is no arrogance OR defensiveness in a true apology. Saying "I didn't mean to run over your family with my car, i'm sorry if you took it the wrong way," just makes it worse when it could have been simple.

4) This gesture has its history as a demeaning taunt, mostly in the US where Asians were subject to laws and campaigns like the "Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882" and persisted for over a hundred years (if you know of the outright racist provisions in this law, and the pain and suffering it has caused, this topic would need no further explaination)

5) Chinese in China would scarcely be concerned as they are not a minority in their own country. Even they took the time to educate their citizens in Beijing that being called "FAT" is very insulting to westerners prior to the games.

So the question is: Now that you've been briefed on the "why," is a REAL apology too much to ask for, or does the dignity of your fellow man not matter to you.

[jb]

Many of you are going of tangent!

Whatever the act, word, gesture, or absence of the aforementioned: If I offend you, or you tell me that I offended you I will offer you my apology as a decent person IF I did not intend to offend you. However, if I intended to offend you then I will not apologize because that was my intent. It appears that many of people are trying to deny it was offensive when people have told you that it is offensive.

Those who are defending the gesture, can you acknowledge that you hear people stating that the gesture is offensive to Far East Asians? I’m not asking for your apology. Just acknowledge that NOW YOU KNOW? If you know, don’t do it again. If you do it again, you are a BLANK (you fill in).

This is an opportunity for people to learn. Did you learn anything? Do you know now that the gesture in the picture/poster is offensive to Far East Asians? If you know, don’t do it!

Stop attacking each other! Those who are attacking each other’s nation, culture, history, and so on: what have you done to understand them? Did you live amongst them in their countries? Learn their language, history, religion, share their sorrow and triumph?

If you are going to post comment after reading this, I challenge you to the followings:
1. Can you acknowledge that Far East Asians consider gesture of slanting the eyes OFFENSIVE?
2. Can you say something nice about Spain, USA, Britain, Anglo-Saxon ?
3. What will you do to bring reconciliation and harmony?
4. Spaniards living in LA, lets get together to share a drink. You can tell me where to go and what to see when I take my family to Spain.

[Al Diaz]

"Spaniards,
1) There is a racist history against asians and many people of color in many countries. In the US, this gesture was meant to taunt and ridicule those of asian descent from the time they were alienated in elementary schools to the behind-the-scenes glass ceilings they face in the workplace. Asian americans have very legitimate reasons to be disturbed by the feelings this "mocking" action evokes."

That is the point some of us try to estate: Not just because in YOUR CULTURE that might be an offence, it has to be understood likewise in OTHER CULTURES (like spanish and chinese), and we really find it very funny to see you asking for apologies because you feel insulted by something that has nothing to do with you. Spain didnt intend to offend and China didnt feel offended. If you are, you have one problem more.
Americans, try to understand and accept other cultures, instead of telling them whats good and whats bad under your superior point of view.

[Mar]

I absolutely agree that any expression of racism or looking down, or making mockery of other cultures based on preconceived stereotypes or the like should -always- be strongly condemned.
Please just look at this video as an example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5DMc2TfahA

[C.K. Wu]

If the Olympics were being held in Africa, and the team had appeared in blackface, would that have been acceptable? Of course not. This is the same thing -- making fun of a physical characteristic of an entire race of people. It doesn't matter if it was done as a joke, as a gesture of endearment, or that the intentions were innocent. The simple fact is that particular gesture is one used to denigrate and taunt Asians. It doesn't matter that you are not really racist because you love Asian people or have a lot of Asian friends. If I had a friend that made that gesture to me, I would not hesitate to set them straight.

I place the blame on that ad company. They were probably trying to get the most publicity they could, and boy, did they succeed on that.

[Turn the page?]

I think blaming the ad company might be o.k. but it would be similar to blaming all Spaniards, or the Americans, etc. I don't think there is one single or simple answer as to where the blame lies. I'm Asian and I'm still upset but I'm also tired of all the tirades (I'm guilty of several under a different name) that my not accomplish much. I suggest people read the constructive suggestions in:
http://tinyurl.com/5jjdhd

[José Mingo]

Hey, Raúl,
Don't worry about your English. I have gone to High School in the US and I can assure you that you're well above the education standards in God-Blessed America. No wonder all these journalists and readers are virtually unable to understand anything which surpasses their borders (I mean not only the geographical borders, but also the intellectual borders imposed by narrow-mindedness).
It's incredible to read posts saying that everybody in Spain is racist because of the way some people behave in football games, or that everybody in the US is racist because of the imperialist way some people behave. You guys! A small minority does not define a whole country! Think over a couple of minutes before vomiting your stupid thoughts where everybody can read them!
If it will make some people happier for a couple of hours (because this issue will be forgotten in no time), I hope Gasol apologises, but I think it's apologising for nothing - or maybe not, probably it's apologising for some group of people's incapability to understand simple notions.

[José Mingo]

Dear Lau,
You say you lived nine years in Spain. Well, you might as well have been there for nine seconds, because you didn't learn or understand anything. You take some minority cases and extrapolate them to the whole people and the whole community. I'm not sure whether you were unlucky enough to go to the wrong places and meet the wrong people, or if you had a bad experience and now you want to take revenge and libel a whole country. If you really spent nine years here, I undestand it's the latter.

[José Mingo]

Dear Asian Lakers fun,
Go ahead and throw away your Gasol Lakers jersey, but don't fool yourself believing you understand both sides, because you're very far from that.

[José Mingo]

Hey Mar,
Don't worry, there's no need to condemn anything concerning that youtube video. I'm Spanish and I think that clip is so funny! The real sense of humour is when you're capable of laughing at yourself, not when you make fun of others!

[José Mingo]

Dear Turn the page,
Constructive suggestions? Do you mean that "the Spanish sports scene is littered with recent racial incidents" or "let the Spanish act racist in the privacy of their own little country" are constructive suggestions? I think they're not. I think they're xenophobic comments made my somebody who has never been to Spain, doesn't know anybody from Spain and founds all his knowledge about Spain in a couple of ignorant articles read in God knows what publication.
It's like Silvie writing "Most Spanish people are born in their small town, move to Madrid or Barcelona for work, vacation on the Costa del Sol and retire in Baleares." What would you think if I wrote "Most US people are cowboys; they take care of their cattle in the morning, go to the rodeo in the afternoon and drink whisky at the saloon in the evening"?