Friday, July 13, 2012

Party Foul: U.S. Olympic Ceremony Uniforms


Violation: The ugly U.S. Olympic Team opening ceremony uniforms.

Explanation: When I first saw the uniforms earlier this week, I immediately wanted to vomit.  I don't see a shred of American style in these uniforms. The berets are ugly. I didn't like them in 2002 when the team had them for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and they are even more out of place now in the summer, where a beret can only make your head hot and isn't able to block the sun in any way. As much as I didn't like the cowboy hat idea (although that would be truly American), at least it's more of a fitting hat for the summer.

The best part of the story is that all of the uniforms were made in China. In this time of economic downturn, with unemployment high in the U.S., outsourcing our uniform manufacturing to China seems like the least patriotic thing to do. This is not about a company trying to stay afloat and needing to cut costs. They should have had them made in the U.S. so that Americans can feel proud of those uniforms as they are paraded in front of the world.

Punishment: I can see plenty of Chinese people finding this situation absolutely hilarious. China is our number one economic competitor as they try to replace the U.S. as the world's superpower. The Olympics is already a faux battleground to prove supremacy. Why do you think the medal count matters so much? I'm not sure what can be done now, but luckily they only have to wear these ugly things during the opening and closing ceremonies.


Photo courtesy of AP

3 comments:

I find this story hilarious. Perhaps the downturn in the economy has been caused by all the decades of outsourcing. I'm also willing to bet more than 1/2 of the other countries uniforms are made in China as well.

Random thought: Where are USA flags made?

Best part is the Chinese government just issued a response and said the American government is hypocritical for being outraged when everything made these days are using materials from all over the world.

If you can't beat them, join them? I guess China has a point, and also just because you make what the athletes wear in the USA, doesn't change the fact that 99% (not a real stat) of American goods are not made in the USA. And most of that is made in China, I'm sure...

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