Malaysia redesigning Olympic attire for select athletes after poor reception
On 26 June, it was reported that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) is currently in the process of redesigning the poorly-received Olympic attire for its representatives.
The redesign will be for athlete use only, with support staff and coaches still using the original design.
Source: Olympic Council of Malaysia on Facebook
The redesign comes as a result of backlash to its unveiling on 23 June.
Design bashed as being ‘cheap-looking’ and ‘ugly’
Unveiled at a shopping mall over the weekend, the Malaysian Olympic attire featured a black and gold theme.
The outfit also incorporated tiger stripes to represent “Malaysia’s relentless and ferocious pursuit of the elusive gold medal at the Olympics”.
Source: Olympic Council of Malaysia on Facebook
However, once revealed, the design — made in partnership with Yonex — was met with massive backlash.
On OCM’s Facebook post, Malaysian netizens criticised the designs for looking ugly and cheap.
Additionally, netizens were also unhappy over how the attire was unveiled, with Redditors even making comparisons to other countries’ reveal videos.
One netizen went so far as to compare the attire to “bootleg” jerseys sold at night markets.
Source: Reddit
In response to the backlash, the organisers of the launch — MY Creative Moments — has apologised.
“We acknowledge our shortcomings and take responsibility for any flaws in the management and organisation of the event as well as [attracting] comments from fans and netizens that affect the overall image of OCM,” said managing director Wong Kang Woon.
Redesigns in the works for athletes
On 26 June, the New Straits Times reported that OCM is currently working with Yonex to redesign the outfits that will be used by athletes.
Source: Olympic Council of Malaysia on Facebook
A limited amount will be produced for the estimated 25 athletes representing Malaysia at the Olympics.
The article also said that an OCM committee had picked a design that looked appealing on paper.
However, the designs had not been executed well on the tracksuits, polo shirts, and T-shirts.
The designs even prompted netizens to turn to AI-generation for more aesthetically appealing designs.
Finally, OCM even said that it is considering opportunities for the public to submit their designs for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
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Featured image adapted from Olympic Council of Malaysia on Facebook.
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