Rio 2016 Shares Functional, Vibrant Uniforms

(ATR) Four different uniforms, designed for functionality and to inform tourists, will grace Rio 2016 workers and volunteers during the Games.

The uniforms, which are provided by Chinese sportswear company 361, feature the colors blue, green, red, and yellow. Technical officials will be outfitted in blue uniforms to match the fields of play, volunteers will be outfitted in green to match information signage, operational staff will be outfitted in yellow, and medical staff will be outfitted in red to stand out in emergencies. International Federation officials will be clothed in a more formal version of the blue uniform.

All uniforms will feature green sneakers, khaki pants that can be zipped off to become shorts, and a backpack that can be worn in three different ways. Each area will receive a colored shirt, jacket, and hat to complete the uniform. All articles of clothing are polyester.

Todd Severson, Rio 2016 Director of Games Services, told Around the Rings that functionality was at the heart of the uniform design. He said that the uniforms needed to be comfortable, be able to dry quickly, and maintain functionality even for workers in wheelchairs. For example, no pockets are featured in the back of the pants or jackets for this reason.

"We put together a group of people of designers who understood the look of the Games and our brands, and also developed an advisory group to look into functionality for the people that were going to use the uniforms" Severson told ATR.

"I think we achieved a good kit that will satisfy everyone’s needs. I hope everyone sees the vibrancy in Brazil in what we produced and it will look great on camera and when people visit our stadiums."

The colors were deliberately chosen to represent the different identities of those who will be wearing the uniforms and to fit in the "rich tapestry" that is the Rio 2016 look of the Games.

The uniforms were presented by a hip hop dance group in Rio’s Cidade do Samba. The venue is where the large samba schools of the surrounding area build and store their floats ahead of the annual Carnaval Parade. Before and during the Olympics Cidade do Samba will serve as the accreditation center for all volunteers and workers.

According to 361, over two million items of clothing were produced to serve 87,000 employees and volunteers. It took 45 days to ship all 58 containers from China to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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