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Designers have incorporated an element in the Canadian Olympic team's gear that could help athletes stave off Beijing's pollution.
A sun-blocking polyester tube dubbed the B-Tube can be worn as a head cover, hair band or mask to filter out the particulate matter in the air. It's a novel combination of style with practical function.
Other teams have considered using conventional masks to limit the exposure to Beijing's notoriously bad air. U.S. Olympic Committee physiologist Randy Wilber is advising that country's stars to arrive as late as possible in Beijing and to wear masks from the time they arrive. British Olympians have considered conventional masks as well, but have lately been discouraged by team bosses who worry they might hinder late training.
The $15 B-tube tube was unveiled by supplier Hudson Bay Company as part of Canada's look 100 days before the Beijing Games. The garments are lightweight, in deference to expected 40-degree heat in the Chinese capital, busy red and white prints with splashes of teal and green. The motifs are combined Canadian and Chinese themes and there liberal use of the Chinese lucky number of eight as a numeral and as octagonal patterns.
Models and Olympic athletes model Canadian Olympic replica wear, which will be worn by Canada's Olympic athletes in the athletes village at the Beijing game, during a fashion in Toronto, Wednesday. (The Canadian Press)
Colour and design inspiration have been taken from the five elements of Chinese astrology: earth, wood, fire, water and metal. The clothing uses many natural materials like bamboo and organic cotton. Most of the pieces will be available for sale as replica wear both at the Bay and Zellers stores and online at www.hbc.com.
Olympic team members will each receive 25 items as part of the team package, including leisure wear, jackets, pants and shorts, hoodies and T-shirts. Parade wear for the opening ceremonies won't be revealed until the Aug. 8 start of the Games, however.
It's the same story for the United States team, which unwrapped its Ralph Lauren-designed gear this week but will keep the ceremonies garb secret until the official start. Lauren replaced Canadian designer Roots for the American athlete gear this time.
David Lauren, the designer's son, said the USOC was looking for Chariots of Fire, but the designer chose a look that would make athletes American ambassadors. The inspiration for the new styles came from the days of Jesse Owens, in an era before track suits became essentially the uniform for Olympians around the world, David Lauren told The Associated Press.
The looks range from classic polo shirts with graphic Chinese lettering that read "Beijing," to tennis and cricket sweaters paired with ties. There are white walking shorts and sweater vests tipped with red and blue that the male athletes will wear around the Olympic Village — or a white polo shirt with both a red and blue stripe on the collar and armbands that is part of the closing ceremony outfit for the female Olympians, Lauren said.
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