‘This is Sparta!’: Beijing police get hot under the collar about ‘Greek warrior’ publicity stunt
Police in Beijing briefly detained at least two foreigners dressed as Spartan warriors who were taking part in a publicity stunt on the streets of the capital to promote a salad company.
Police in Beijing briefly detained at least two foreigners dressed as Spartan warriors who were taking part in a publicity stunt on the streets of the capital to promote a salad company.
A photograph published in the Beijing Youth Daily shows police restraining the two men on the ground on a pedestrian overpass in the city centre.
Dozens of young foreign men dressed in tight leather shorts and flowing capes took part in the promotion handing out salads to bemused office workers in streets, shopping malls and subway stations in the capital’s business district on Wednesday, the newspaper said.
Police held a number for “disrupting public order” when they ignored several requests to stop working, the report said, without giving details. The promotional campaign in public areas had not been approved by the authorities, the article said.
Beijing police issued a statement on their official Weibo account at Thursday noon saying they had received several calls from the public the day before. They were told that "dozens of foreign men in shorts were attracting crowds”.
Indeed, the marching group of “Spartans” were trailed by a stream of curious watchers, whose photographs and videos went viral on social media.
