Spain's Olympic Uniform Has Become The 'Butt Of Jokes' On Social Media Networks

Spain's garish red and yellow Olympic uniforms "have not gone down well with some athletes" and have become the "butt of jokes" on social media networks, according to Emma Pinedo of REUTERS. Russian company Bosco, who also designed the kits for Russia and Ukraine, provided Spain with uniforms "free of charge" in a deal with the Spanish Olympic Committee (REUTERS, 7/18). CONTEXTO.com.ar reported that the "topic most commented on in social media" is the uniform Spain will wear in London. The critics came out "in large numbers and have not stopped." The latest to cause controversy have been Spanish athletes Alex Fabregas and Saúl Craviotto, who posted pictures of themselves in their uniforms on their Twitter accounts. Fabregas posted: "Olympic outift, there aren't enough adjectives." Craviotto wrote, "At home trying on the Olympics clothes! better if I don't opine, I will leave it up to you guys..." (CONTEXTO.com.ar, 7/18).

MONEY SAVED: EUROPA PRESS reported that Community of Madrid VP Ignacio González and Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) President Alejandro Blanca "defended the choice of uniforms that the Spanish delegation will wear at the London Games." Blanco said, "The cost of the uniforms for these Games, close to 1,000 kits, is zero euros, because we were able to get them for free for the Olympics and Paralympics. A total of €1.7M ($2.1M) that we would have had to spend out of the state coffers." Blanco added he hoped the controversy would go away when the competition starts, and Rafael Nadal "comes out with the flag and the rest of the national team" (EP, 7/18). Nadal, however, pulled out of the Games Thursday due to not being in "condition to compete" (EL PAIS, 7/19).

A HOT SELLER: The EFE reported that the "controversial Spanish Olympic uniform" is a sales success in London. The uniform supplier, Bosco, has a store in London where the uniforms can be purchased. According to the store assistant Henry Hatton, the Spanish uniforms are the "most sold in the store." Hatton: "We know that in Spain there is a big controversy over the uniforms. But since they started talking about them in the press, the sales have increased." The entire Olympic kit can be purchased for £130 ($204) (EFE, 7/19).