Eighteen National Olympic Committees to benefit from the NOC Uniform Support Programme at PyeongChang 2018
Building on the success of the first ever National Olympic Committees (NOCs) Uniform Support Programme for the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in collaboration with the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), is extending the programme to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
Eighteen National Olympic Committees from four continents will be provided with free competition clothing in PyeongChang, thanks to the support of the IOC and the WFSGI. Through the combined work of the participating NOCs and six of the world’s leading sports brands that are involved in the programme, they have been designing and developing the uniforms to be worn by 53 athletes during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
The brands that are involved in the programme are:
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adidas
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Descente
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Marker Voelkl Dalbello
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Mizuno
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Odlo
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Under Armour
The NOC Uniform Support Programme was put in place to assist NOCs and athletes that are unable to procure compliant competition uniforms for the Games by providing them with outfits that meet not only the technical requirements of the International Federations, but also Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
This is solidarity in the true sense of the word, as the IOC and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry are supporting those athletes and NOCs that need it most.
Thomas Bach
IOC PRESIDENT
“This is solidarity in the true sense of the word, as the IOC and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry are supporting those athletes and NOCs that need it most. This programme is running for the second time in a row now at the Olympic Games. We are thankful to have partners like the WFSGI on our side who help us to promote the development of sport and the welfare of athletes across the globe,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
The programme, which reaches athletes and NOCs that have difficulties in the procurement of uniforms, was first piloted in Rio and was a huge success for not only the NOCs but for the brands as well. Adidas, Under Armour and Mizuno were already part of the pilot programme and have re-joined for the winter edition of the Olympic Games.
“We believe in sport as a powerful tool for sustainable development and it has been a wonderful joint effort between the IOC and WFSGI to assist a certain number of athletes and NOCs with uniforms that meet all technical requirements needed to perform at their best,” said Robbert de Kock, President & CEO of the WFSGI.
“Building on the Rio 2016 experience, we are pleased to continue to support the athletes who are part of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 Uniform Support Programme and to equip them with the latest state-of-the-art competition apparel,” he added. “This project is a great example of cooperation, as it could not have happened without the efforts of all the stakeholders involved, to whom I am thankful.”
The Uniform Support Programme benefited 350 athletes from 69 NOCs at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and was subsequently shortlisted for the “Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year” at the Peace and Sport Awards. Created in 2008, the annual Peace and Sport Awards reward organisations and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to peace, dialogue and social stability in the world through sport.
The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will run from 9 to 25 February in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, and will feature approximately 3,000 athletes from 95 NOCs.