2008 Olympic Team Uniforms

Athletes traveling to Beijing for the Olympics next month will be equipped with uniforms for every occasion. Besides specifically designed sport uniforms, most will also have clothing to represent their nation as a unified team. These formal and/or leisure uniforms are used for official functions, press conferences, and the opening (formal) and closing (leisure) ceremonies.

The most controversial team uniforms so far are the designs from Hudson's Bay Company for Canada. The designs feature both Canadian and Chinese symbols and text. See a gallery of the Canadian uniforms here. The response from the public has not been positive. People object to the way the uniforms look and the fact that they are manufactured in China.

The Olympic rules state that no country can wear the same uniform design in two consecutive Olympics. See more new designs for 2008 after the jump.

Germany unveiled its Olympic uniforms in Dusseldorf in April.

The Australian team's formal uniforms are provided by Sportscraft with shoes by Mileno. The suits are made from lightweight Italian wool, designed for the heat of Beijing. See more pictures in this gallery.

The Japanese formal uniforms were modeled by athletes in Tokyo two months ago.

The Russian team's retro-style uniforms are designed by Direct Design and produced by Bosco Sport. A representative of Bosco Sport said the uniforms are meant to evoke the legend of the Russian Fire Bird, which is a story akin to the Chinese Phoenix. They are also meant to evoke the Khrushchev era.

The Olympic committee of Spain held a fashion show in Madrid featuring Olympic athletes to introduce their uniforms in April.

Which national team uniforms do you think are the most fashionable? Thursday, we'll take a look at the designs of individual sports uniforms, which have nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with performance.

* * * * *