FU Team USA uniforms

[josieposy]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY WERE MADE IN CHINA?!!!! GASP!! OUTRAGE!!



China-made U.S. uniforms raise ire


WASHINGTON -- Uniforms for U.S. Olympic athletes are American red, white and blue -- but made in China. That has members of Congress fuming.

Republicans and Democrats railed Thursday about the U.S. Olympic Committee's decision to dress the U.S. team in Chinese manufactured berets, blazers and pants while the American textile industry struggles economically with many U.S. workers desperate for jobs.

"I am so upset. I think the Olympic committee should be ashamed of themselves. I think they should be embarrassed. I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference on taxes.

"If they have to wear nothing but a singlet that says USA on it, painted by hand, then that's what they should wear," he said, referring to an athletic jersey.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference that she's proud of the nation's Olympic athletes, but, "They should be wearing uniforms that are made in America."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said simply of the USOC: "You'd think they'd know better."

In a statement, the U.S. Olympic Committee defended the choice of designer Ralph Lauren for the clothing at the London Games, which begin later this month.

"Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the U.S. Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London."

Ralph Lauren also is dressing the Olympic and Paralympic teams for the closing ceremony and providing casual clothes to be worn around the Olympic Village. Nike has made many of the competition uniforms for the U.S. and outfits for the medal stand.

On Twitter, Sandusky called the outrage over the made-in-China uniforms nonsense. The designer, Sandusky wrote, "financially supports our team. An American company that supports American athletes."

Ralph Lauren's company declined to comment on the criticism.

In fact, this is not the first time that Ralph Lauren has designed the Olympic uniforms. Yet that did little to quell the anger on Capitol Hill.

"It is not just a label, it's an economic solution," said Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y. "Today there are 600,000 vacant manufacturing jobs in this country and the Olympic committee is outsourcing the manufacturing of uniforms to China? That is not just outrageous, it's just plain dumb. It is self-defeating."

Israel urged the USOC to reverse the decision and ensure U.S. athletes wear uniforms that are made in America.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., sent letters to Lawrence Probst III, chairman of the USOC, complaining about the made-in-China uniforms. Brown suggested that the USOC find a manufacturer with a facility in the United States, suggesting the Hugo Boss plant in Cleveland.

"There is no compelling reason why all of the uniforms cannot be made here on U.S. soil at the same price, at better quality," Gillibrand and Israel wrote.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., said that while millions of Americans are unemployed, "there is no reason why U.S. Olympic uniforms are not being manufactured in the U.S. This action on the part of the U.S. Olympic Committee is symbolic of a disastrous trade policy which has cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and must be changed."

In a tweet, U.S. track and field Olympian Nick Symmonds, who will compete in the 800-meter run at the London Games, wrote: "Our Ralph Lauren outfits for the Olympic opening ceremonies were made in China. So, um, thanks China."

This is hardly the first time patriotism has been discussed when it comes to Olympic clothing. The must-have souvenir of the 2002 Salt Lake Games was a fleece beret, something that athletes wore in the opening ceremony and prompted countless people to spend hours on lines waiting to purchase during those Olympics.

Those berets were made by Roots, a Canadian company that was the official U.S. team outfitter for that opening ceremony. ABC World News reported Wednesday night that the uniforms were made in China.

In the past four years, the USOC has faced criticism for some of its sponsorship deals as it has scrambled to deal with the economic downturn.

When General Motors left as a sponsor, the USOC signed a $24 million deal with German automaker BMW that raised eyebrows. At the time, the USOC highlighted the carmaker's 42-year history of selling cars in the United States and the fact that BMW has 7,000 American employees.

The USOC and the International Olympic Committee also were criticized for sticking with BP as a sponsor after the deadly oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.

ABC World News reported Wednesday night that the uniforms were made in China.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

[dev22]

I mean, I do find it ridiculous that they couldn't even get uniforms made in the USA, but it is not really something I want congress worrying about. You know, with the whole economy, war ect.

[pixy0stix]

So, everything else in our country is made in China, but gawd forbid that's shoved in our faces when we look at the olympic uniform.

[emilyj]

What is this, the best red herring ever for Congress? "We don't want women to have rights - OOOH! LOOK! The Olympians are wearing outfits made by the CHINESE! OUTRAGE!"

[runforrest]

Jul 12, 2012 22:13:20 GMT -5 dev22 said:

I mean, I do find it ridiculous that they couldn't even get uniforms made in the USA, but it is not really something I want congress worrying about. You know, with the whole economy, war ect.

This is where I'm at - there are 935738 other things Congress should be worrying about that are more important than Olympic uniforms.

Also, your pup is adorable.

[polarbearfans]

Our uniforms should have been made in the USA.

[marynjoe]

Jul 12, 2012 22:25:49 GMT -5 polarbearfans said:

Our uniforms should have been made in the USA.

I agree.

[taratru]

who the fuck cares?!? Or are ALL the uniforms at the Olympics made in-country and we're the poor losers who will look ridiculous?

Of all the things that might actually *matter*.

eta: And, I'd like to add that since it's a privately funded organization, they can pretty much do whatever they want, no? Just like eleventy billion other private organizations and companies in America today.

[sunny]

they are so gawdawful - have you SEEN them? a HUGE polo logo on the front.

[msmerymac]

Yes, they should be made in the US.

But how much do you want to bet that most people screaming about how they should be made in the US have no idea how hard it is to find ANYTHING that is fully conceptualized, produced and serviced in the US?

And even if they had American Apparel make them, well, the owner of that company is a douche, so we really can't win. But that would tie in with the war on women in the US...

[KateAggie]

Jul 12, 2012 23:14:10 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Yes, they should be made in the US.

But how much do you want to bet that most people screaming about how they should be made in the US have no idea how hard it is to find ANYTHING that is fully conceptualized, produced and serviced in the US?

And even if they had American Apparel make them, well, the owner of that company is a douche, so we really can't win. But that would tie in with the war on women in the US...

Obama should speak out against this. It's the perfect ad setup. "President Obama thinks our Olympic athletes should wear American made uniforms. Mitt Romney? He sent that money to Canada."

Lolololol.

[livinitup]

I was dying to know where Sen. Harry Reid's suit was made.

[marie427]

They should have been made in the USA but the decline of our textile manufacturing industry goes way beyond Team USA in 2012. I'm not getting my panties twisted over this.

[Deleted]

The optics aren't good, but I'm more upset about that stupid polo logo on the uniforms

[Deleted]

This is just a way to link Romney to outsourcing since he ran the SLC olympics.

[teflep]

I agree on Harry Reid. I was actually (flameful statement coming up) though it was a Republican saying that statement. He is a moron.

[IIOY]

I only skimmed this article and was completely confused as to why a child rapist cared about this issue or was commenting on it.

[heliocentric]

There is not a lot of domestic garment manufacturing left anymore. Most of it is for govermenment stuff (military uniforms, etc.) because that HAS to be made here.

How much needs to be made in the US? Just the garments? The textiles? The fibers? If so, that is not easy to do.

Plus, Americans aren't out of work because Olympic uniforms ordered once every 4 (or 2?) years are made overseas. The garment industry died because the clothes we buy every day, every year are made overseas.

[Deleted]

Wasn't designed by an American either. Also, they were probably transported in vehicles where not every part was American. There was probably some non American germs in the air. The Olympics aren't in America.

The real crime here is that the athletes look like badly dressed 1920 children's dolls.

[karinothing]

Jul 13, 2012 7:27:26 GMT -5 @reeve said:

Wasn't designed by an American either. Also, they were probably transported in vehicles where not every part was American. There was probably some non American germs in the air. The Olympics aren't in America.

The real crime here is that the athletes look like badly dressed 1920 children's dolls.

Wait..isn't Ralph Lauren American? He was born in NY.

[mrshandy]

Meh, I'm more offended by the huge polo logo.

This is such a silly thing to care about.

[Deleted]

Jul 13, 2012 7:30:43 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Jul 13, 2012 7:27:26 GMT -5 @reeve said:

Wasn't designed by an American either. Also, they were probably transported in vehicles where not every part was American. There was probably some non American germs in the air. The Olympics aren't in America.

The real crime here is that the athletes look like badly dressed 1920 children's dolls.

Wait..isn't Ralph Lauren American? He was born in NY.

THATS NOT IMPORTANT HE SOUNDS FRENCH

ETA and judging by the way Americans are "Irish" if they have any relatives in the past 200 years who were, then he really is French lol

[casmgn]

While I think the uniforms should have been made in the US (but let's be real, there's no way in hell the Nike uniforms are made in the US either), I definitely agree that Congress has way more important things to worry about. Now if they want to protest about how idiotic our athletes are going to look in those things, then I'll support them on that. Otherwise, get back to work and start fixing the damn country.

[secretlyevil]

What brings our congress together? Clothes. It is stupid that they weren't made in America and they have a big fat Polo Ralph Lauren logo on them. I mean seriously? The committee seems to have forgotten what the Olympics is about. I'm pretty sure it's not product pushing. However, I agree with pps - congress has more important things to worry about and the thin thread of tying the Olympic uniforms to the economy doesn't really hold up in my book.

[Chirp]

Jul 13, 2012 7:15:09 GMT -5 IIOY said:

I only skimmed this article and was completely confused as to why a child rapist cared about this issue or was commenting on it.

Bwahaha! I skimmed first and saw Sandusky and decided to go back and actually read it. I feel for anyone or any place bearing the name Sandusky.

Jul 13, 2012 7:30:43 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Jul 13, 2012 7:27:26 GMT -5 @reeve said:

Wasn't designed by an American either. Also, they were probably transported in vehicles where not every part was American. There was probably some non American germs in the air. The Olympics aren't in America.

The real crime here is that the athletes look like badly dressed 1920 children's dolls.

Wait..isn't Ralph Lauren American? He was born in NY.

Yes, he's American. Born in NY. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Belarus. His real last name is Lipshitz. It was legally changed to Lauren since Lipshitz doesn't translate very well when spoken in English.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Lauren

[Deleted]

I actually like them.

So yeah, whatever.

[charminglife]

Jul 13, 2012 7:27:26 GMT -5 @reeve said:

The real crime here is that the athletes look like badly dressed 1920 children's dolls.

Bingo. And if congress REALLY cares so much about the Olympic team and having some say, then perhaps they should offer funding. Otherwise, stfu.

[pescalita]

I actually think it would be super disingenuous to have them made in the USA. Oh Hai, everything we buy and wear is made overseas including our competitive gear but IN THE PARADE OF NATIONS WE'RE REAL 'MURICANS!

[IIOY]

Jul 13, 2012 9:06:19 GMT -5 pescalita said:

I actually think it would be super disingenuous to have them made in the USA. Oh Hai, everything we buy and wear is made overseas including our competitive gear but IN THE PARADE OF NATIONS WE'RE REAL 'MURICANS!

Plus they'd cost three times as much.

[casmgn]

Jul 13, 2012 8:46:14 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

It is stupid that they weren't made in America and they have a big fat Polo Ralph Lauren logo on them. I mean seriously? The committee seems to have forgotten what the Olympics is about. I'm pretty sure it's not product pushing.

While I think the big logo is tacky, doesn't RL donate the uniforms? They aren't going to do so solely out of the kindness of their hearts - they are going to want free advertising in return.