It's been addressed in previous threads, no need to rehash it. You can look back if you care to.

Clearly you're view is that it's about the podium girls themselves being exploited. I really don't think that's what concerns most people. Certainly not me. The job is there, some will take it. It may be enjoyable, lucrative, provide opportunities, whatever..... that's not the point.
The point is the reason for the job to exist and how it reflects on, and influences society.
Pose women in roles where they are there as nothing but "eye candy" and you're reinforcing the idea that this is what women are good for and that it's legitimate to expect women to make themselves attractive and subservient. From that perspective it doesn't matter whether the women concerned are exploited, well paid, love the job, or otherwise..... it matters what role they play and how it's perceived. Their well-being is important. Healthy society is more important.

You exemplify one issue many have with the PC crowd. You automatically assume that what you're doing is the right thing and the other side is the wrong thing.

This thread proves that argument.

Part of the problem here is that, for many people, something like an online triathlon forum is the only place they engage in an "intellectual" discussion on a variety of issues.

What?
You're the one who responded to my post, with a position that doesn't obviously deal with anything I had said or asked in the thread. After I tell you why I disagree with what YOU said, rather than provide anything whatsoever to substantiate your initial claim or put it in context, the best you can do is tell me there's something, somewhere that addresses what I say if I want to go look?
I don't even know what you think I should look for since you don't seem to understand what I'm saying.

Are you by any chance joking?....because I'm laughing!

While I mostly post this as a joke:

"Societies needs come before the individual's needs." -Adolf Hitler

It can be argued that we run into a little trouble when we let a loud minority dictate what is best for everyone else. That is my main issue with Pc culture.

You are quite the piece of work. I didn't reply to your post exclusively, I replied to the thread as a whole. Get over yourself, I owe you nothing. If you want a joke, take a look in the mirror.

Just curious if someone is going to tell the organizers at the upcoming South Beach event that they need to fire the cute models that hand out the finisher medals? Or is this just a France PC thing we are talking about. Come to think about it, I guess all the women who are employed by car shows, boat shows, NASCAR, NFL cheerleaders, PGA, LPGA, European tour golf tournaments, etc, etc, etc need to be notified as well. Any volunteers?

I'm not convinced that podium girls have a bad effect on society. I haven't heard any compelling argument or analysis about it-- I only hear that the podium girls make some people feel uncomfortable or feel like women are objectified.

Do sexy women make you feel uncomfortable? That's your problem, in my opinion. Why is it the problem of the sexy woman? Look someplace else if you don't like it.

If sexy women are objectified, why is it their problem? Shouldn't we blame it on the person who objectifies, rather than the sexy woman? I predict that high heels, miniskirts and push up bras will be blamed next. We'll need to get rid of those so women won't be objectified.

Please discuss a general principle that can guide our thinking on this debate, such as personal autonomy, freedom to live and work without harassment, personal responsibility, freedom of expression, etc.

I'm not convinced that podium girls have a bad effect on society. I haven't heard any compelling argument or analysis about it-- I only hear that the podium girls make some people feel uncomfortable or feel like women are objectified.

Do sexy women make you feel uncomfortable? That's your problem, in my opinion. Why is it the problem of the sexy woman? Look someplace else if you don't like it.

If sexy women are objectified, why is it their problem? Shouldn't we blame it on the person who objectifies, rather than the sexy woman? I predict that high heels, miniskirts and push up bras will be blamed next. We'll need to get rid of those so women won't be objectified.

Please discuss a general principle that can guide our thinking on this debate, such as personal autonomy, freedom to live and work without harassment, personal responsibility, freedom of expression, etc.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" -Spock

Both quotes are no more than a distraction. Both are simple assertions without rationale. And whether they were said by Hitler, Spock or me is irrelevant to their legitimacy. So I'm going to ignore quotes if that's okay.

However, I do agree that a loud minority shouldn't hold sway. I also firmly believe that "PC" orthodoxy is as much a hazard as a solution to societal problems. I believe compassion, integrity and open argument are the route to fairness and avoidance of the pitfalls you mention. That's why I am so frustrated when people intentionally misconstrue another's position or fail to provide rationale for their own, as may be obvious ;).
I have no interest in correctness for show. I want fairness as far as it's possible to provide it, and transparency of motive from those thwarting it. This is of course at odds with commercial priorities.

In this particular case, I am far from convinced that there is a loud minority arguing over something silly, as many seem to suggest. I think those who pose this as an issue about the well being of the women employed as podium girls are utterly misconstruing the argument. I don't have any major concerns about those individuals, nor is my argument in any way undermined by them liking the job they're doing. Why would it be?

I see a conflict between the supposed aspiration to equality and respect, the outrage against those who disrespect or abuse women in various ways every day, and the reality of putting women on display purely as sexual objects. These are not compatible without some real mental gymnastics. Of course human beings are great at those, but they have nasty consequences.

I'm not convinced that podium girls have a bad effect on society. I haven't heard any compelling argument or analysis about it-- I only hear that the podium girls make some people feel uncomfortable or feel like women are objectified.

Do sexy women make you feel uncomfortable? That's your problem, in my opinion. Why is it the problem of the sexy woman? Look someplace else if you don't like it.

If sexy women are objectified, why is it their problem? Shouldn't we blame it on the person who objectifies, rather than the sexy woman? I predict that high heels, miniskirts and push up bras will be blamed next. We'll need to get rid of those so women won't be objectified.

Please discuss a general principle that can guide our thinking on this debate, such as personal autonomy, freedom to live and work without harassment, personal responsibility, freedom of expression, etc.

Non issue presented as big deal, so dumb people are busy fighting\talking about it, while other real issues are getting addressed behind closed doors.

Lets liberate those poor podium girls because they do not know what they are doing, and are probably forced to do it...modern day sexual slavery...Those girls are probably scared for life, how can they kiss strange man on the cheek? We need to ban this. And legalize marijuana so they can finally relax and forget those dark podium days, after they get stoned they might actually make good decisions and kiss who they want not who they are asked to kiss.

I assume your second paragraph should have been in pink. ...

I think the word ban is being thrown around as a carry over from the last thread about podium girls... I don't think this type of "modelling" will ever be illegal because they and their employers are not doing anything against the law.

Despite the difference of views - I appreciate that there is a conversation being held about this topic. It is always good to have these conversations cuz otherwise, we get stuck in our own silos and ways of thinking. Despite the small amount of mud-slinging, it has been a very thoughtful conversation from both sides.

But really - is anyone going to stop watching F1 or TdF because there are no more podium girls? People are using the argument that there's no harm having them there when yeah, there actually is - it's part of the publicity machine that re-enforces stereotypes of a historically marginalised group. The need for podium girls is now outdated - I think that society has moved on from objectifying pretty girls and treating them as if they're men's trophies, because that's what these girls are essentially (except the guy can't take her home and put her on the mantelpiece, but I suppose they are standing on his podium).

If you tell your daughters or nieces that this is so over the top PC and tell them that these podium girls don't look subservient at all (kiss the guy on the cheek, stand there and look pretty but don't speak, make sure you show some skin too).. what do you think these girls are going to grow up thinking about themselves and expectations of who they should be and what they're capable of doing (no no... not the person winning the race, you're the wrong gender).

This has nothing to do with sexiness, being prudish or not. It is about perpetuating stereotypes and having strong role models for our girls to look up to.

What's the harm of not having them there? That these girls won't have jobs with great perks and kiss sweaty guys on their cheeks while millions of men ogle them? They can't do what they want to do? Not really strong points as all jobs and industries evolve to stay relevant. Podium girls = irrelevant.

My 2+ cents:
Jane is sexy!
A1 is quite possibly a bot (Russian?)
Let the womens decide what's best for them.