Chinese Olympic hostesses have height requirements

Did you know that the Chinese Olympic hostesses have height requirements? How nuts is that!

I was shocked with this 2007 headline in the Washington Post:

Beijing Sets the Bar High for Its Olympic Hostesses

"Hundreds of young women are needed to serve as hostesses for award ceremonies at next year's Beijing Olympics, but only those who are tall, beautiful and have good figures need apply, planners said Tuesday.

"We have certain requirements for their height, since they have to present the awards to our athletes," said Zhao Dongming, director of the cultural activities department of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee. Candidates should be 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, he said. "That's above average."

- Washington Post Foreign Service


To just present the award you can't be under 5'4". JEEZ.

The hostessses at Beijing might be taller than the athletic talent!