Following backlash from politicians and the public, Team GB will feature the traditional Union Jack on its athletes’ kits for the Paris Olympics, abandoning the previously planned pink and purple design.
Team GB has announced a reversal in its decision to use a newly designed flag with pink and purple colours for the Paris Olympics, opting instead to feature the traditional Union Jack on its athletes’ kits. The move follows a spate of criticism from politicians and the public over deviating from the iconic red, white, and blue design. The controversy mirrored a similar dispute involving sportswear brand Nike, which faced objections for altering the colours of St George’s Cross on England football shirts.
The original redesign, executed by Bath-based agency Thisaway, aimed to modernise Team GB’s colour palette but was met with significant opposition. Public and government figures, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, argued for the preservation of national symbols, highlighting the importance of the Union Jack in representing national pride and identity. The swift decision to revert to the classic design underscores the value placed on traditional symbols in sports and national representation.
