London 2012: Team GB official uniforms and the deconstructed flag

The official Team GB outfits have been unveiled today in a special launch at the Tower of London.

Designed by Stella McCartney and made by Olympic gear official sponsor Adidas, the kit will be worn by 500 Olympic and 350 Paralympic Athletes next summer at the London 2012 Games.

The kit shows a broken down Union Jack that appears in different ways according to type of uniform and technical material used.

The pattern has lots of light and dark blue and a lack of red according to many, but this lack is compensated on the footwear side: shoes and socks are red.

British Olympic athletes will be supplied with up to 175,000 items of clothing for the games: competition, down time and presentation.

The sportswear has been over two years in the making and combines the best in performance technologies and stand-out British style, according to Adidas who appointed McCartney as creative director.

She said: “The first place to start on a project like this is to look at the Union flag. For me it’s one of the most beautiful flags in the world and it was important for me to stay true to that iconic design but also to modernise it and present it in a contemporary way”.

Triathlete Alistair Brownlee, defined the tri-suit as “fantastic” to the BBC and said: “it’s notoriously difficult to get it right, because it has to be not too baggy for the swim, but tighter for the cycle and the run”. While gymnast Louis Smith said his pale blue trousers and Union Jack vest were “comfortable, nice to wear, professional and sexy”. He added: “With gymnastics, it’s important because you’re being judged on how you look”.

The kit was unveiled in a five-minute showcase where more than 30 athletes including heptathlete Jessica Ennis, Olympic rowing champion Pete Reed and double Paralympic swimming gold medalist Ellie Simmonds helped model the new designs.

Annalisa Ratti