Evening Standard

Red, white and new: Team GB kit covers all the right bases

- Robert Dex

THIS is the first look at the kit Britain’s athletes will wear at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. The design by Adidas is described as “grounded in simplicity” and “builds around the classic British red, white and blue” while featuring “white lion head graphics”. The “sleek, modern collection” is designed so the red and white elements pop against the blue when athletes are competing. Among those modelling the kit were gymnast Max Whitlock and divers Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix — daughter of First Dates host Fred Sirieix — and Tom Daley. Daley, who first competed at the 2008 Olympics and won his first medal at the 2012 London Games, said: “Heading into my fifth Olympics, I can genuinely say nothing compares to competing in my Team GB kit, knowing that all the training I’ve done is gearing towards hopefully winning a medal for my country.

“This new kit totally sums up that special feeling and I cannot wait to wear it in Paris this summer.”

The typeface is said to draw its inspiratio­n from the outfits worn by British athletes at the Paris Olympics in 1924, the last time the city staged the Games.

It comes after the British Olympic Associatio­n promised a traditiona­l approach to its kit after a backlash over its sale of some Union Flag merchandis­e in different colours.

The Football Associatio­n also found itself at the centre of a controvers­y when Nike changed the colour of the St George’s Cross on the collar of the England football team’s kit.

Adidas said the “design principles” behind the new Team GB kit would allow athletes to “participat­e in comfort, and without distractio­n” — in stark contrast to the Team USA kit, which includes a highcut leotard branded sexist by some athletes.

 ?? ??
 ?? ?? PARIS 2024 | OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN | 99 DAYS TO GO
Going for gold: modelling the kit are, far left, long jumper Jazmin Sawyers; gymnast Max Whitlock, main; and BMX cyclist Charlotte Worthingto­n, below
PARIS 2024 | OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN | 99 DAYS TO GO Going for gold: modelling the kit are, far left, long jumper Jazmin Sawyers; gymnast Max Whitlock, main; and BMX cyclist Charlotte Worthingto­n, below
 ?? ?? Diving in: Tom Daley, left, and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, right. Above right, taekwondo star Caden Cunningham and sprinter Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake. Far right, Paralympia­ns Thomas Young, Zak Skinner and Olivia Breen
Diving in: Tom Daley, left, and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, right. Above right, taekwondo star Caden Cunningham and sprinter Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake. Far right, Paralympia­ns Thomas Young, Zak Skinner and Olivia Breen

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom