China Tailors IOC Garb

(ATR) The wardrobe of the IOC for the next two Olympics will come from China.

The IOC signed off on a deal for ANTA to become the official sportswear supplier for IOC staff at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, as well as the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne and the 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

The Xiamen, China company has been in business since 1991 and is known for its high performance gear. ANTA already has Olympic experience as the official sports apparel partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee since 2009. The company also provided IOC uniforms for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and the YOG Buenos Aires 2018.

The agreement with ANTA was signed in a ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne Tuesday.

"We were very pleased by the excellent quality and designs of the uniforms delivered for PyeongChang 2018 and Buenos Aires 2018, and we have been very impressed by the professionalism, great service spirit and flexibilityof the ANTA team," said IOC President Thomas Bach.

Elite athletes on the ANTA roster include basketball stars Luis Scola and Rajon Rondo, boxer Manny Pacquiao and tennis pro Zheng Jie.

The designation of ANTA for IOC sportswear follows the selection in September of Chinese firm HYX as the IOC tailor for its formal uniforms through 2022. HYX is known for its high quality woolen fabrics.

Other IOC uniform suppliers have included Nike and Bosco. As a uniform supplier, no marketing rights are granted by the IOC, which pays for the apparel. ANTA is the first Chinese company to supply the IOC sportswear.

ANTA Sports CEO Ding Shizhong equates his company’s philosophy with the virtues of the Olympics.

"ANTA’s value of ‘Keep Moving’ echoes with the Olympic motto of ‘higher, faster, stronger’. We would take this opportunity to build a bridge that inspires broader exchanges and communication for Chinese culture and Olympic culture," he said.

Note the duration of both suppliers ends in 2022. Just in time for a decision on the clothing the IOC will wear in Paris for 2024. Haute couture to come, perhaps.

Reported by Ed Hula.