CHINA women auditioning to be one of the 380 Olympic hostesses or medal presenters during the Beijing Olympics have stringent requirements to meet, including some bizarre rules on facial features.

For instance, the length of their eyes should be three-tenths the length of the face.

Another rule stipulates that 'the distance from the forehead to the base of the nose, from base to tip of the nose, and from tip of nose to chin should be equal'.

There are at least 15 requirements for body type, reported Shanghai's Xinmin Evening News.

The Olympic hostesses must also be between 18 and 24 years old, and 1.68m to 1.78m tall.

Olympics organisers are combing colleges and universities to find students willing to volunteer to help present medals at the Games.

She should possess 'soft and smooth thighs, high and slighting protruding calves, symmetrical shoulders, rosy skin with lustre'.

Bones in every part of her body must be 'well-proportioned and symmetrical'.

Her muscles must also be 'elastic enough to display a healthy, beautiful body - full-figured, not fat and cumbersome', something which might be construed as sexist in other countries.

Other requirements include an elevated sense of political awareness, a sense of dedication and strong teamwork ethics, reported Xinhuanet.

The successful candidate must also be disciplined and able to 'endure hardship'.

The chosen girls are sent to Beijing for etiquette training. For the perfect smile, they are required to clasp a chopstick between the teeth while showing their pearly whites.

To perfect their posture, they are required to stand for long periods balancing a book on their head.