WEARING IT PROUDLY FOR OLYMPICS
Canada’s athletes get stylish new look for Tokyo Games
What will Team Canada’s athletes be wearing at the 2020 Tokyo Games next year?
That sporty, 26-piece collection was revealed Monday by the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Hudson’s Bay, the team’s official outfitter for the past 14 years. The launch supports the Team Canada Return To Sport program, which was established earlier this year and shows off what the athletes will be wearing for opening and closing ceremonies, as well as on the podium and in the Olympic Village.
The collection has become an important symbol of national unity, with purchases supporting athletes as they prepare for their extended road to the Games, which because of the COVID-19 pandemic were rescheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8, 2021.
“Hudson’s Bay has heard firsthand the strong sense of patriotism our Canadian athletes feel when they wear the official Team Canada uniforms,” said Ian Nairn, the company’s president and CEO. “By unveiling the collection now, our goal is to inspire athletes and fans to keep the spirit and momentum of Team Canada strong, and support our athletes looking to compete in Tokyo next summer.”
The collection “seamlessly blends classic fashion pieces with street style esthetic” in a manner that is described as “unapologetically Canadian.” New is that Hudson’s Bay has collaborated with Levi’s to design key elements featured in both the opening and closing ceremony looks.
The Canadian Olympic Committee will be redistributing 10 per cent of the Tokyo 2020 collection into the Team Canada Return To Sport program.
“There is something quite special that I can’t really explain when an athlete receives their official Team Canada collection at the Olympics,” said Erica Wiebe, the 31-year old Stittsville, Ont. product who is the reigning Olympic wrestling (75-kilogram freestyle) champion. “Once again, Hudson’s Bay has done an amazing job of representing Canada through the collection. With a portion of sales representing Team Canada with our return to sport, I encourage everyone to buy the collection and wear it proudly.”
The water-resistant, lightweight nylon opening ceremony jacket ($125) is red, with a zip-closure and bold Maple Leaf centred on the back featuring 13 stripes that represent the unity of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories. It will be paired with a white T-shirt ($25) that features a Maple Leaf placed inside a red circle on the chest. Completing the outfit, and also part of the closing ceremony look, will be Levi’s white 502 jeans ($128) for men and 721 white highrise jeans ($128) for women.
The podium look “draws inspiration from classic athletic jackets and embodies team spirit.” A lightweight, knit jacket features “CANADA” in chain stitch letter detail across the back and paired with a dry first T-shirt underneath. Track pants have an “unexpected” Canada graphic on the back leg.
The closing ceremony outfit pays tribute to Tokyo in a unique and artistic way. Inspired by graffiti and streetwear, the “hero” piece of the collection is a unisex trucker jacket ($198) that celebrates inclusivity and gender neutrality. Among its features, the jacket showcases the friendship with the host country with the word Canada spelled in Katakana, a Japanese syllabary. It will be paired with a black T-shirt ($25) boasting the Maple Leaf set in a metallic gold circle as a tribute to Team Canada’s success.
The full Team Canada collection is available at all Hudson’s Bay stores across the country and on thebay.com.
“Competing at the Paralympic Games is a culmination of so many years of hard work, dedication and commitment, and putting on the official Team Canada gear for the first time at each Games is truly one of those moments where it all comes together,” said paralympic swimming champion Katarina Roxon, 27, of Corner Brook, N.L.
“We feel such immense pride representing Canada and wearing the red-and-white Maple Leaf, and are excited to wear those clothes at next summer’s Paralympics.”