<p>Frankly, I would do away with athletes representing countries all together. And let 'em wear what they want.</p>
<p>I know someone very closely who has represented our country in athletics. She said that there was nothing like it and the feeling when they played the national anthem was unexpected and overwhelming. Do not underestimate the pride and honor that athletes feel about wearing USA on their uniform. It is not just any competition to them.</p>
<p>Well, now they’re wearin’ China on their uniforms, too. (Which is not so terrible - they do that in their daily lives as well. And speaking of track shoes…)</p>
<p>“Well, now they’re wearin’ China on their uniforms, too.”</p>
<p>Is there a big CHINA on the back of the uniform or does it say USA. Welcome to globalization. I don’t care where the uniforms are made.</p>
<p>Oh, it can say anything on the back, or even in the front. I have a good friend in Kenya, a nurse, who wears this beautiful black and gold bowling shirt that he picked up in the market for $2. It also has an American flag upside down sown on it. Upside down. Made in Bangladesh. Apparently they didn’t know. So the American company shipped them all off to Kenya. He didn’t know either. Doesn’t make it look any worse (or better).</p>
<p>I do not really get the issue about Made In China. For all we know, the same athletes will stay in touch through iPhones and iPads. Heck, their entire training schedule is probably on an iPad. Would be frustrated if the Chinese team wore some outfits produced in the US or in Europe. Aren’t the Chinese leaders, including union bosses, not proud to display the finest and priciest goods? </p>
<p>As long as the judging will less influenced by the Chinese, we ought to have very nice Olympics. And if we stand out because of our ugly outfits, so be it. There are plenty of reasons why the ROW see us as ugly Americans; it won’t be a big change!</p>
<p>It wouldn’t be so bad if most of the other countries were outsourcing the making of uniforms, but they aren’t, even in countries where their programs are not supported by the government. It is an issue of American competitiveness both on and off the court.</p>
<p>Where those uniforms are made won’t change a darn thing about our national (lack of) competitiveness. At best, it might an issue of pride. However, it is the athletes who will make us proud; not the RL - Made in China label or a Made in the USA version. </p>
<p>A step in the right direction of leading a global economy is to stop being so provincial.</p>
<p>I’m far more interested in the conditions under which they are made than the geographical location.</p>
<p>(Athletes don’t make me proud. I am happy at their accomplishments, and I usually prefer to watch the Olympics on Canadian TV. (though I must admit to looking forward to hearing the Tuva national anthem, (*Tooruktug Dolga</p>
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<p>The issue is trivial on a practical level but very important in terms of appearances and symbolism. This is not an ordinary athletic team. This the official American team to formally represent the United States on the largest athletic stage in the known universe. The USOC holds an official charter from Congress. Its rights and status have been upheld by the US Supreme Court.</p>
<p>Given all this, it shows an appalling cluelessness and lack of common sense on the part of Ralph Lauren and the USOC. What were they thinking? Doesn’t anyone remember the fuss made back in 2002 over those cool Roots hats the US team wore to the Winter Olympic Games? And those were only made in next door in Canada - by our best friends and allies in the world and who are practically indistinguishable from Americans. Now, having obviously forgotten that lesson, they hire China, of all places, to make the whole uniform this time. </p>
<p>Some people just got no sense.</p>
<p>The 2008 uniforms were made in China and the 2004 uniforms were made in Canada. This is nothing new.</p>
<p>At least the 2008 Games were held in China… :)</p>
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<p>Is it cynical to simply say … duh, what do you expect from our government and officials? Aren’t we known to have our public servants accumulate one faux-pas after the other? Keeping track of how callous and clueless those folks are is an exercise in futility. </p>
<p>However, although lots of feelings seem to be hurt about the garments, do we really believe that anyone abroad will be worried about the origin of the blazers? They probably will smile at the lack of fashion sense or laugh at the ugliness. But will they consider it further … I do not think so. </p>
<p>I understand the part of the poor decision; I do not understand why Johnny Six-Pack or an Ivy Leaguer would make a fuss about … that!</p>
<p>Xiggi, the USOC is a non-profit that does not receive regular financial support from the US government. So they are not “our government and officials” – you will have to save your outrage on that for another topic. </p>
<p>In fact, sponsors of the USOC include companies like Samsung that are not even American companies.</p>
<p>“MiamiDAP – I’m not seeing how it is “unpatriotic” to write that the uniforms are ugly”
-The ONLY patriotic thing to say right now is anything that would support our athletes, nothing negative should be gong on. Such a huge sacrifice on their part, I am really ashamed at what is going on. Of course, the same people would say to their own kid when he/she dressed up to go to prom. that a kid looks ugly and should take the clothes off, burn it and put something else. Correct? The kids should take it very positively and say that mommy/daddy proved to love them and support them when they say the truth at the last moment…they will obey unconditionally,…or maybe there is a slight chance that they will not go to prom and hate you for that and remember this “positive” event for the rest of their life?</p>
<p>This is from USA Today: </p>
<p>“Swimmer Missy Franklin said she won’t march in the July 27 opening ceremony because the Olympic swimming competition begins the next day. While she wasn’t asked about the issue of the clothes being made in China, Franklin called the uniforms “absolutely adorable.””</p>
<p>I looked at a montage of opening ceremony uniforms through the years and, like them or not, they are actually much better than most of those worn in the past. I’ll take the berets and newsboys any day over the pimp hats, bowlers and coyboy hats! :eek:</p>
<p>[U.S</a>. Olympic uniforms through the years: good, bad and downright silly - seattlepi.com](<a href=“http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/U-S-Olympic-uniforms-through-the-years-good-3699208.php]U.S”>http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/U-S-Olympic-uniforms-through-the-years-good-3699208.php)</p>
<p>It seems a little “day late and a dollar short” to start worrying about what is or is not made in the USA. Were all of our athletes made in the USA?</p>
<p>"“Swimmer Missy Franklin said she won’t march in the July 27 opening ceremony because the Olympic swimming competition begins the next day. While she wasn’t asked about the issue of the clothes being made in China, Franklin called the uniforms “absolutely adorable.””
-Thank you, big relief. I was concerned the most about kids like her, very young girls. Looks like they do not listen to all this non-sense. I am very pleased. BTW, she is absolutely great, not only as an athlete, but everybody were mentionning that they are happy to have somebody like her on a team, she keeps it light, very bubbly personality…just great 17 y o kid and a nice looking too! I wasnt her on a stand after her every swim!!!</p>
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<p>what sacrifice is this? It is a life choice based on a skill they are born with that makes the successful extremely wealthy. No more of a sacrifice than a scientist that is focused on his task. All the same in a different arena…</p>