Kong's Torch hope

One of the world's hairiest men, who nicknames himself "King Kong", has launched a campaign to carry the Olympic torch during the relay ahead of next year's Beijing Games.

"The Olympics belong to everyone - the common people and those with abnormalities included," Yu Zhenhuan said. "First I am a celebrity, inside and outside of China. Secondly, I think my experience in coping with a disfigurement ties in with the notion of the Olympic spirit."

Hair covers 96 per cent of Mr Yu's body.

He may be surpassed only by a pair of Mexican brothers, Victor "Larry" and Gabriel "Danny" Ramos Gomez, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having 98 per cent hair cover.

Mr Yu is being supported in his bid by Xing Aowei, who won a gymnastics gold medal for China at the Sydney Games in 2000.

"In him, I see the perseverance and bravery of the Chinese people," Xing said. "I will help him with publicity and give him some ideas."

But the Beijing Games' organisers are taking a wait-and-see attitude.