Sun Yang, Ye Shiwen Continue to Profit From Strong Olympic Performances; Controversy Regarding Statues Being Built

HANGZHOU, China, August 14. ON the heels of an $18 million endorsement package signed by Sun Yang, news is out that Sun and Ye Shiwen have both been gifted houses by property developer Greentown China Holdings according to China Daily. Each house is worth nearly $500,000 US.

The news about the gift broke as part of an overall debate on whether Sun and Ye deserve to be enshrined with statues outside the Hangzhou Stadium in their hometown of Hangzhou. Previous athletes from the area have earned statues at the stadium, including “gymnast Lou Yun, swimmer Luo Xuejuan, shooter Wu Xiaoxuan and volleyball player Zheng Xiongying.”

While plenty of sources are quoted as being supporting of the statues, there is some controversy coming from several areas. First, whether a statue should be erected of someone who is still alive stating a statue “might put the young champions under unusually heavy social pressure.” Additionally, some in the article stated that they'd rather have the money to create the statues be used to open more swimming pools that are open to the public for free.

Even Ye Shiwen's father Ye Qingsong is against the statues.

“That's just too much.” Ye said.

Full China Daily article.

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