The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) have renewed their commitment to the Uniform Support Programme for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This initiative, which aims to ensure that all athletes have access to high-quality competition uniforms, will benefit more than 500 athletes from various National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around the world.
The Uniform Support Program was first introduced at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro to address the needs of NOCs struggling to provide their athletes with appropriate competition attire. The program ensures that all Olympians receive uniforms that meet Olympic standards and bear the name and emblem of their NOC to promote fairness and equality on the global stage.
James Macleod, Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations at the IOC, emphasized the importance of the program in providing all athletes with the necessary clothing for their Olympic journey, as it creates a level playing field for all athletes when it comes to their competition attire.
Emma Zwiebler, Managing Director of the WFSGI, emphasized the importance of the athletes’ mental and physical preparation to wear the best clothing and footwear on competition day. Zwiebler thanked the 15 member brands participating in the program for their commitment to Olympic solidarity. Participating brands this year include Adidas, Arena, Asics, Decathlon, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Under Armour and Yonex.
Robyn Young, a swimmer from Eswatini who benefited from the program during the Tokyo 2020 Games, spoke of her positive experience and the confidence she gained from the state-of-the-art equipment.
WFSGI continues to play an important role in promoting sustainability and supporting the global sporting goods industry to ensure that athletes can focus on their performance without worrying about their equipment. This initiative not only underlines the IOC and WFSGI’s commitment to Olympic solidarity but also demonstrates the power of collaboration in achieving greater equity and excellence in sport.
