Lacoste was reportedly the only brand that issued a bid to outfit French athletes outside the field of play at the Olympics, after the French Olympic Committee decided to no longer attribute all-encompassing rights to a single brand. For many years that brand was Adidas, which provided outfits for French athletes in all disciplines and for all of their appearances at the Olympics, both on and off the field of play, with very few exceptions. Adidas was the only brand to take part in a tender for the same deal earlier this year, but failed to reach an agreement. The French Olympic Committee then changed its strategy and launched a tender for the presentation outfits only, which was not sufficiently relevant for Adidas. The decision was discussed by Guillaume de Montplanet, in charge of the Adidas brand in France, in an interview with Le Parisien. The Three Stripes will still be worn by many French athletes on the field of play at the Olympics, since French sports federations now have the right to sign deals that also cover the Games.

Topics