Toronto Star

Olympics: Russian uniforms unveiled

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MOSCOW— The Olympic Athletes from Russia will be wearing grey and red in Pyeongchan­g.

Under an Internatio­nal Olympic Committee ruling last month that formally banned the Russia team, as many as 200 Russians could end up competing under the Olympic flag next month.

Russian sportswear company Zasport published on Thursday sketches of what it says are IOC-approved designs for the competitor­s, who will be officially known as Olympic Athletes from Russia.

There are winter coats, tracksuits, and hooded sweaters in grey, as well as an outfit in red with white stripes.

The designs, from the same company which was due to create uniforms for the Russian team before the ban, don’t bear any Russian flags.

IOC rules don’t allow the neutral uniforms to contain national symbols, so there’s a badge on the chest reading “Olympic Athletes from Russia.”

Zasport says Russian athletes will start receiving their uniforms on Monday. However, it’s far from clear who exactly is going to the Olympics from Russia. The IOC has an invitation-only process for Russian athletes with the aim of cutting out those who it believes were part of organized doping programs or coverups at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

It wasn’t immediatel­y clear which versions of the uniforms would be worn at the opening ceremony and the IOC did not immediatel­y comment.

 ??  ?? The uniforms are free of Russian flags or other national symbols.
The uniforms are free of Russian flags or other national symbols.

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