Australia’s Olympians will be showcasing a new uniform in Paris, featuring the work of Indigenous artists. The new uniforms were unveiled in Sydney, and included designs by the artist and boxer Paul Fleming and Torres Strait Islander artist David Bosun. The new kits are designed by Japan-based sports apparel manufacturer Asics, in collaboration with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
The uniforms also feature a traditional Japanese arrow pattern, known as yagasuri, representing strength, momentum and determination. When not competing, Australians will be able to wear uniform dresses around Olympic venues for the first time. The dress option was empowering given rugby’s history as a male-centric sport. The new design is a nod to the way the Olympics unite people from all countries, backgrounds and cultures.
View image in fullscreen‘I’m super excited … to wear this and represent my culture’ … rugby sevens player Maurice Longbottom. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
The rugby sevens player Maurice Longbottom said the design was “a little bit special”. “I’m super excited … to wear this and represent my culture and my heritage on the world stage,” he said. “Hopefully I can get out there and do Pauly Fleming proud.”
View image in fullscreen‘We get to wear cute dresses’ … rugby sevens player Charlotte Caslick. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
Caslick said the dress option was empowering given rugby’s history as a male-centric sport. “Paris is the fashion capital of the world and we get to wear cute dresses,” she said.
Kyle Vander-Kuyp, a member of the AOC’s Indigenous advisory committee and Worimi and Yuin man, said he was encouraged by the athletes’ enthusiasm. “I thought, ‘will they embrace this? Will they enjoy having Indigenous design?’ But to my surprise they said, ‘we want more, we want more’,” the record-setting hurdler said.
The former medal-winning cyclist and the Australian team’s 2024 chef de mission, Anna Meares, said the uniform was indicative of the nation’s cultural harmony. “We’re talking about that interweaving of the fabric – we really see that with the Indigenous design in our uniform, but also sport in our culture.”
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2024-03-07 02:11:39
Original from www.theguardian.com
