Beijing, Aug 13 (IANS): Chinese netizens have criticised the red-and-yellow Olympic uniforms worn by their players, saying they resembled scrambled eggs with tomatoes, the China Daily reported on Saturday.

"I think the dress is utterly ugly. The opening ceremony should be one of the best occasions to display China's soft power and creative fashions but dressed in the uniform our sportsmen look like cheap restaurant waiters and waitresses," wrote Chen Cheng, a netizen from Beijing.

Yin Zhengsheng, a professor of art and design at Tongji University in Shanghai, said the uniforms worn at international events such as the Olympics represent a nation's image.

"China has made great efforts to develop top athletes, but that's not enough. The spirit of sports is not only the brilliant performances of a few sportsmen, but also a combination of sporting skills, sportsmanship and charisma," the daily quoted Yin as saying.

The uniforms worn by China's athletes at the opening and closing ceremonies were designed by Ye Chaoying.

He started designing the uniforms for Rio in July 2007, having been selected by Hengyuanxiang Group, the company authorised to make the athletes' official clothing.

"By combining more than 1,000 designs that Hengyuanxiang collected globally, I designed eight different styles, and the red-and-yellow version was finally chosen," the 42-year-old designer said.

However, Ye has been taunted, slandered and even threatened for his designs. "Strangers have phoned me at 6 a.m., calling me the 'sinner of the nation'," he said.