Team USA Olympic Uniforms

Team USA Opening Ceremony Uniforms for 2012 London Olympics.
Photo: Ralph Lauren

I will be the first to admit that I wouldn't be caught dead in the Ralph Lauren designed Team USA opening ceremony uniforms to be worn at the 2012 Olympics in London.  Just not my style and I thought we were Team USA, not Team Britannia!  (Don't they look better suited for the UK athletes?)

I'm a bit put off by all the political heavyweights bitching and moaning about the uniforms, not because they look whack, but because they were manufactured in China.  Listen to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's indignation.

Yes, Chinese-made uniforms for Team USA also seems a bit odd to me considering the Olympics is all about national pride and athletic superiority.  But, don't you have more important things to groan about, Sen. Reid?  Don't get me wrong.  I agree that there are unemployed textile workers in this country who would love to have made the uniforms.  But, they would also like to have jobs BEYOND just making a set of uniforms!!!  Why throw your political weight behind groaning about the outsourcing that sent Ralph Lauren's manufacturing operations to China in the first place?!?!?  And, to be fair, the same criticism goes to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and any other politicos who shared their indignation over the uniforms.

The United States Olympic Committee responded in a most appropriate way. "Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the U.S. Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," said USOC Patrick Sandusky in a statement released last week.

Please remember, Sen. Reid and others, Uncle Sam does NOT pay for his team to compete in the Olympics!!!! So, back off!!!  If you want to say the uniforms are a slap in the fact to American pride, OK.  If you wanted to express your personal desire that they be burned, that's OK, too.  But, make sure you add that while you are disappointed in the USOC's decision to have uniforms made in China (or any other country) that it is THEIR decision to make and we have no say because taxpayer money does not fund America's Olympic efforts.

To it's credit, Ralph Lauren announced later that uniforms that it provides for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia will be made in the USA.

"Ralph Lauren promises to lead the conversation within our industry and our government to address the issue to increase manufacturing in the United States," the company said in a statement.

Team USA Basketball Uniforms for
2012 Olympics. Photo: Nike

Now, I wonder what we would find if we looked at the labels inside the Team USA competition and medal ceremony uniforms that Nike provides?

Oh, Good Evening!