Athletes will wear Portuguese tradition at the Paris Olympic Games | Olympic Games

The countdown to the 2024 Olympic Games has begun and Portuguese athletes are preparing to head to Paris. For official ceremonies, the team takes Portuguese tradition with them through pieces inspired by the embroidery on lovers’ handkerchiefs. Messages left by the Portuguese for the athletes are also embroidered on the lining of the suits, produced by Decenio.

The official costumes of the Portuguese Olympic Team were presented this Tuesday at an event that featured some of the Portuguese athletes, such as judoka Bárbara Timo, swimmer Angélica André, fencer Miguel Frazão, marathon runner Susana Godinho Santos or Tiago Pereira in triple jump. The more formal pieces were designed by the Portuguese company Decenio, while the sports sets were produced by the Spanish brand Joma. The sunglasses are the responsibility of Shamir Optical, made in Portugal, tailored for each athlete.

To PÚBLICO, the Portuguese Olympic Committee explains that the uniforms for the competitions “are the responsibility of the federation of each sport”, unlike what happens in other countries, where, regardless of the sport, the same brand produces all the pieces. Recently, US track suits produced by Nike sparked controversy for sexualizing the bodies of female athletes.

The pieces that Portuguese athletes will wear in Paris, during the official ceremonies, says Decenio administrator, Ricardo Jordão, were designed to “adapt to the needs of athletes in terms of comfort and functionality”, reconciling “sophistication”. The most formal outfits are the suits, already a “brand image” of the Portuguese company, which maintains classic tailoring patterns. “In addition to providing elegance, they look good on any body type.”

DR

DR

In dark blue, the pieces differ by having the symbol of the Olympic committee embroidered and other details “in the colors of the Portuguese flag”. The blazer’s lining also hides messages of support for athletes. “They were collected through our physical stores and our Web siteso that the Portuguese could leave their message of support, strength and luck to our athletes”, details Ricardo Jordão.

Highlighted in the collection are polo shirts with a pattern inspired by traditional Valentine’s scarves — hand-embroidered by artisans and then printed on cotton. Among the embroidery elements are Olympic medals, the Portuguese coat of arms, the flag, but also other more traditional lovers’ scarves, such as the heart of Viana, small birds and the words “love, solidarity, strength and overcoming”. The same mantras are embroidered on the scarf, socks and cap, which will be on sale in Decenio stores.

The concept “and history” was also the responsibility of Decenio, which, in addition to the suits, polo shirts and accessories, created other more relaxed pieces, such as pleated skirts or shorts — some “reinterpreted classics” to have a “more modern” touch. and innovative.” And Ricardo Jordão reinforces: “With these uniforms we tried to do much more than just wear them, but rather to send a message of love to the whole world, at a time of so many wars and conflicts.”

DR

DR

All pieces are made in Portugal, which they hope will serve as a calling card for the quality of national clothing. “We want to value what is ours. The quality of the fabrics, the embroidery on the pieces are handmade by artisans, the meticulous attention to detail, these are details that make the difference and that set us apart from others”, argues the brand administrator.

This is the second time that Decenio is responsible for producing the Portuguese team’s official costumes — first for Tokyo 2020 and now for Paris 2024. The competition starts on July 26th and ends on August 11th. The Portuguese Olympic Committee estimates that the team has 70 to 80 athletes, although the calculations have not yet been completed.

The Olympic flame arrives in France this Wednesday, through the port of Marseille. The ceremony is scheduled for more than 150,000 participants, in what will be the first test for the security forces before the start of the competition.