Arc’teryx Fireworks in Tibet Trigger Backlash, Government Probe

Chinese authorities launched an investigation after a fireworks show in Tibet sponsored by the outdoor gear maker Arc’teryx sparked a backlash on social media because of concern about the effect on the environment.

A team has been sent to investigate, the municipal government in Shigatse said in a statement Sunday. Arc’teryx — a brand of Hong Kong-traded Anta Sports Products Ltd. — apologised and pledged remedial actions in a statement posted on its Weibo account Sunday, acknowledging insufficient assessment of the boundaries of artistic expression.

Arc’teryx teamed up with Cai Guo-Qiang, a pyrotechnics artist, on the fireworks project dubbed “Rising Dragon” on Sept. 19 in Shigatse city, at an altitude of 5,500 meters (18,045 feet). A video of the show was released on Saturday, triggering criticism on social media that the event contradicted the outdoor brand’s image of protecting nature. Some expressed their intention to boycott Arc’teryx products. The video has since been retracted.

Arc’teryx will engage a professional environmental protection agency to conduct a transparent assessment, it said in the statement.

A consortium led by Anta acquired Amer Sports Inc. in 2019, aiming to bring high-end athletic equipment to China’s increasingly wealthy middle class. Amer owns brands including Arc’teryx and Atomic winter equipment.

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