The first online reality show in China, which will feature the lives of 16 football fans during the World Cup, has attracted interest from almost 800 people who would like to take part.
The show, named Crazy Fans, will use eight men and eight women. The 16 will be locked up in a villa in a Beijing suburb for 32 days and be scrutinized throughout via Web cams.
"The players will be reduced to eight, four, two and, finally, one as they follow the progress of the World Cup, through the first round, quarterfinals, semifinals and final," said Zuo Ming, one of the people behind the program.
"Who is eliminated depends on the results of the games, votes from fellow players and the attention they get online. The winner will receive a 100,000-yuan reward."
He said people picked to take part will not have any other form of entertainment other than the World Cup during the 32 days of the reality show.
They will be the subject of an online broadcast that will continue for 24 hours and include every aspect of their daily lives.
The show is being organized by ku6.com.
Chen Yao, a huge football fan in his 30s, said he would love to be among the participants and will ask for a leave of absence from his job with a transportation company in Wuhan if he is selected.
"I have got the support of all my friends, at least 60," Chen said. "Some of them would love to join me if they had the time.
"I have no concerns about privacy. I'd love to let the public know about the life of a real football fan."
But some would-be participants have said many of those hoping to take part have the wrong motivation.
"Some of the candidates are just jobless people hoping to get free meals and a fancy place to live, others are not real football fans but are simply attracted by the 100,000-yuan reward," said a hopeful in an online posting.
Some of those trying out are understood to have already quit their jobs, even though the 16 have not yet been selected from the 800 applicants.
Professor Yu Hai, from Fudan University, who specializes in urban sociology, said people are trading their job opportunities for their feelings at that moment.
"I admire the young's attitude to take their feelings very seriously when making decisions," said Yu. "But I don't approve of the final choice, which has roots in their values."
Yu said he had also heard of people quitting their jobs to volunteer for the Shanghai Expo or for two days during an APEC conference.
"It is OK I don't share the same values with them, but I have no rights to judge," he told METRO.
