Germany’s colorful Olympic uniforms cause stir (photos)

By
Nick Zaccardi,

By
Nick Zaccardi

Published October 2, 2013 08:18 AM

Germany Olympic uniforms — Models and German athletes hold the German flag as they present the official German olympic team’s outfit for the next Olympic wintergames in Sotchi, during a fashion show at the Duesseldorf fair ground, western Germany, on October 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)

The German Olympic team uniforms were unveiled in style on Tuesday, in a runway shoot in Düsseldorf. The immediate reaction was mixed for one of the Winter Games’ most powerful nations.

Let German magazine Spiegel describe the look:

The uniforms, which German Olympic skier Daniel Bohnacker described as “trendy,” consist of a blue, white, yellow and green jacket -- paired with white pants for male athletes, and bright red and orange pants for female athletes. The teams’ hats have a stripe reminiscent of the German flag set in bright blue and red color schemes.

The colorful design leads some to believe it was done in reference to Russia’s anti-gay law, but the German Olympic Sports Confederation said the uniforms “are not a protest.”

Designer Willy Bogner told Spiegel they’re an homage to the aesthetics of the 1972 Munich Olympics, a “celebratory design, inspired by the great atmosphere of the times.” Munich made it official this week it will bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics after losing to Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

Here are photos of the uniforms, via Getty Images and Reuters.