You don’t need to have in-depth knowledge about China to know how much actor Jackie Chan means to the country. Chan and basketball superstar Yao Ming are China’s golden boys and its most popular exports (along with Mu Shu Pork).
Right now all eyes are on Beijing as the Summer Olympic Games enter week two and no surprise, Chan is in the middle of all the action. The Chinese government recruited the movie star as an Olympic ambassador and he has been busy promoting the Chinese culture at various sporting events.
“The Forbidden Kingdom” star was also given the honor of recording a compilation of songs for the Games. The “Official Album for the Beijing Olympic Games—Jackie Chan’s Version” is one of only two solo albums authorized by the Beijing Olympics organization to be sold publicly. The album features 10 songs including “We are Ready” and “Welcome to Beijing.”
But that’s not all Chan has done to get in on the Olympic action. The action hero also designed 101 specialty sporting outfits, which he has been wearing during the games. Each set is printed with Olympic rings and features different Chinese characters. Chan said he plans to put the outfits up for auction after the Olympics and donate the proceeds to charity.
Visitors to China don’t have to go far to view Chan’s latest clothing creations. Earlier this week Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, the Chinese branch of the famous wax museum, unveiled its latest figure—that’s right, Jackie Chan.
Hong Kong’s hometown hero is front and center at the museum right now. Chan’s wax version is donning one of the Olympic-inspired outfits he created for the Games and is standing in front of a backdrop of Hong Kong’s skyline. In a statement the “Rush Hour” star released to the media following the official unveiling Chan noted that his sporting gear is a tribute to the “amazing Olympic city we have.”
Jackie Chan—-actor, ambassador, and now, fashion designer… talk about synergy.
I wonder if he sent his pal Jet Li one of his Olympic-inspired outfits?