Australian Olympic uniform for Paris Games unveiled
Source: AAP
Australia has launched its Olympic uniforms for the looming Paris Games featuring the largest-ever splashes of Indigenous artwork.
Paul Fleming, an Indigenous Australian from Wakka Wakka Wanyurr Majay, Yuggera Country who boxed for Australia at the 2008 Games, was instrumental in creating the Indigenous aspects of the uniforms.
Fleming teamed with Torres Strait Islander artist David Bosun to create the designs to be worn by Australia’s athletes and officials at the Paris Olympics starting in late July.
Every piece of the Olympic uniform features Australian sport’s green and gold colour scheme and incorporates an Indigenous print.
Fleming’s artwork, titled Walking Together, features prominently and signifies the Olympics as a central meeting place.
“The centrepiece represents a meeting place because the Olympics brings together people of all colours, religions and backgrounds from all over the world who are all competing for the same goal,” Fleming said.
“Everyone essentially becomes ‘one’ – we’re all athletes and it doesn’t matter where you come from.”
Australia’s chef de mission Anna Meares said the “world-class” uniforms would take Australia’s Indigenous themes to a global audience.
“This is the first time the Australian Olympic team will have an Indigenous design across its competition and delegation,” Meares said at the launch in Sydney on Thursday.
“It’s a really impressive milestone … [it] has been a great process and one that has bought great collaboration and a uniform that everyone is proud of.”
The apparel also incorporates a Japonism Yagasuri – an arrow pattern signifying strength, steadfastness, and determination – in a nod to the Japanese heritage of uniform-provider ASICS.
– AAP