London 2012 unveils uniforms for Games Makers and Technical Officials

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today unveiled the designs of the Games Maker uniform that will be worn by around 70,000 volunteers and 6,000 LOCOG staff and the Technical Officials uniform which will be worn by around 4,500 Technical Officials during the London 2012 Games. The uniforms will be a visible presence for the millions of spectators who will be coming to London and the rest of the UK next year. They fulfil all the necessary practical criteria for a diverse range of Games Makers, LOCOG staff and Technical Officials to undertake the varied roles that will be required during the Games. Download images here The design of the Games Maker uniform has drawn inspiration from the heritage and culture of the UK, influenced by the historic Grenadier Guards uniform and British Sporting heritage—including the London 1948 Games, Wimbledon Tennis and Henley Regatta but with a twist that reflects British quirkiness and modern design. The Games Maker uniform, designed by LOCOG in association with London 2012’s official sportswear provider adidas, has a deep purple and poppy red colour scheme. The colour combination is based upon a contemporary twist of a regal purple and vibrant Grenadier Guards red. The combinations of vibrant and fresh colours will provide a distinctive look and allow Games Makers to stand out in the crowd. The details on the uniform evoke the pride and heritage of the United Kingdom. The colours and details on the uniform celebrate the best of British sport, history and fashion. The uniform mixes key aspects from modern sportswear—including the cut, fabric and ergonomic seams—to ensure they meet comfort and functionality requirements. Key features of the uniform include the particular cut of collar, epaulettes and singular metal buttons. The jacket has a turn-back feature to suit different arm lengths. Different-coloured epaulettes will identify specific groups, with white for medical staff, red for Team Leaders and green for anti-doping personnel. Games Makers who will be volunteering and working at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games will have the same uniform. The logo will change on the back and front of the jacket from Olympic to Paralympic and Games Makers will receive new t-shirts and a hat. However, the trousers, shoes and other accessories will remain the same. LOCOG, in association with British retailer and London 2012’s official clothing and homeware supplier Next, designed the formal wear uniform that will be worn by Technical Officials during the London 2012 Games. The formal wear is also inspired by British heritage but with a modern twist. Key features of the Technical Officials uniform include engraved buttons with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, embroidery under the collar featuring the distinctive London sky line, the official’s oath as a label and lining inside the suit featuring iconic London buildings including the Gherkin and the London Eye.
Technical Officials may also wear a casual uniform depending on their sport. This uniform has been designed by adidas and is the same as the Games Maker uniforms however the colours are blue and white. International Federations will be able to use the epaulettes to carry the logo of their individual sports. Each Games Maker will receive a jacket, polo shirt, trousers, trainers, socks, cap, bag, water bottle and an umbrella. Each Technical Official uniform will come with jacket, pair of trousers and skirt (for women), a shirt for men and a blouse for women, a belt, a bag which can fit a laptop, a Trilby hat and a tie for men and a scarf for women. LOCOG, adidas and Next have worked together to ensure that both the Games Maker and Technical Officials uniforms are as sustainable as possible. One hundred per cent of the Games Maker uniform contains sustainable content. For example the polo shirt is made of 100% recycled polyester, so too is the jacket shell, while the outer and inner lining consists of partly recycled polyester, as are the trousers. The bag and water bottle are both made from 100% sustainable materials. The Games Maker special edition Fluid trainer is adidas’ most sustainable shoe, with pattern innovations and sustainable content throughout the entire shoe. Next have selected wherever possible to use fabrics with recycled content for the Technical Officials uniform. The suiting fabric for both the men’s and ladies’ tailoring contains a recycled polyester element and the suiting lining is also from a sustainable source. The fabric for the shirts is made up of 45% recycled polyester. All the uniforms have been produced in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimise waste and other local environmental impacts, while also taking full account of responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain. Suppliers and factories have been briefed with regards to the sustainability standards set by LOCOG, and regular audits are conducted to ensure that all products are sourced and transported in an ethical manner. Paul DEIGHTON, Chief Executive of LOCOG said: "Next summer our workforce and volunteers will be working together to deliver Olympic Games and Paralympic Games which we hope the whole country will be proud of. They will be high profile in London and in our venues across the UK at Games time and so it’s important they look the part. What we’ve come up with is a uniform which celebrates the best of Britain’s heritage in a modern and sustainable way. Delivering the Games is hard work and so the uniform needs to be functional, however we also want our teams to wear it with pride. We showed it to them this morning and the response was incredibly enthusiastic." "Next to the athletes themselves, Technical Officials will be at the heart of the action next summer and we have worked with our partners adidas and Next to create uniforms which are practical and stylish." Simon CARTWRIGHT, adidas Global VP of Olympic sports said: "With our long heritage in the Olympics having outfitted athletes and federations since 1928 we wanted to include just as many technologies in the Games Maker uniforms as we do for our athletes. This includes a perfect thermo regulation, light materials and the requirement that uniforms are practically adaptable for people with disabilities. Seeing 70,000 Games Makers and staff wearing the result of our teams' hard work will be a very proud moment." Lade ADANIJO, a Games Maker from London who will be volunteering with the event services team at the London 2012 Games next year said: "It is a privilege to have been selected to be a part of London 2012, and so exciting to see our Games time uniforms. The story and colours behind the design really make me feel like I will be a part of British history and that I will be playing an important role next year in a once in a lifetime event. It is events like today that make the Games feel like they’re getting close – I can’t wait!" Games Makers will start picking up their uniforms from April 2012. Technical Officials will pick up their uniforms from June 2012. Images of the uniforms from today’s launch can be downloaded here For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Source: LOCOG Edited by World Archery Communication