Polo to Outfit U.S. Team
For the Beijing Olympics
By RACHEL DODES and STEPHANIE KANG
April 7, 2008; Page B1
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. plans to announce Monday that
it will be the official outfitter for the U.S. team at the 2008 Summer
Olympics in Beijing.
Polo, which signed a contract with the U.S. Olympic
Committee last week, replaces the Canadian apparel company Roots Ltd.,
which outfitted the U.S. team for the past three Olympic Games and was
to continue through 2008. But the two parted ways in January after
Roots presented the USOC with designs the committee deemed too informal.
The preppy styles Polo is making for the athletes to
wear in the Opening and Closing ceremonies and in the Olympic Village
will mark a departure from sporty outfits that the American team has
worn in recent years, such as retro ski jackets inspired by vintage
Ducati motorcycle ads that were worn in Turin, Italy, in 2006.
