Statues idea sparks debate

Widespread opposition has arisen against a proposal to honor two Olympic swimming champions by erecting statues of them in their hometown.

Sun Yang, 21, and Ye Shiwen, 16, both natives of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, were told on Friday that the statues would be put up in front of Hangzhou Stadium.

The idea for the project was conceived by the chief of the Hangzhou sports bureau, Zhao Rongfu.