Colorful Statement? Germany's Olympic Uniform Seen as 'Pro-Gay'

[unhappycamper]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-olympic-uniform-for-sochi-seen-as-pro-gay-protest-a-925756.html



Germany's new outfits for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi have been interpreted by many as a silent protest against Russia's anti-gay laws, but the German Olympic Sports Confederation disputes it.

Colorful Statement? Germany's Olympic Uniform Seen as 'Pro-Gay'
October 02, 2013 – 02:08 PM

ts Sochi Winter Olympics team with a runway show in Düsseldorf. The show has prompted reaction in Germany not only because of its bold design, but because many people are reading it as a silent form of protest against Russia's anti-gay laws.

The uniforms, which German Olympic skier Daniel Bohnacker described as "trendy," consist of a blue, white, yellow and green jacket -- paired with white pants for male athletes, and bright red and orange pants for female athletes. The teams' hats have a stripe reminiscent of the German flag set in bright blue and red color schemes. The overall look is puffy and bright, or, as German daily Die Tageszeitung described it, "a cross between a pot-bellied pig and a parrot."


The uniforms were created by German designer Willy Bogner, in cooperation with Adidas and the shoe company Sioux. Bogner claims they were an homage to the aesthetics of the 1972 Munich Summer Games and said he wanted to create a "celebratory design, inspired by the great atmosphere of the times." It conveniently comes in the wake of Munich's announcement that it will bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which, if it is successful, would make it the first city ever to have hosted both the winter and summer games.

But other commentators have seen a more explicitly political message in the uniforms. On Twitter, German users interpreted the uniforms "as a rainbow pattern" and as a "clear political statement." "Looks great, like a gay and lesbian pride parade," wrote one user. "Extremely hideous -- but a well-intentioned move supporting the rights of gays and lesbians," wrote another. The official description, which claims the outfits "were created using colors and materials specially tailored to the conditions in Sochi" seemed to, in ambiguous fashion, support that interpretation.



unhappycamper comment: I'm a straight guy with a bunch of gay friends and family, BUT... I am also a human being.

Class warfare against gays, immigrants, the poor, black folk, Muslims etc. etc. needs to stop. And the only way to start is putting a lid on this shit is to lose your Tea Baggers next election.

[joeybee12]

1. Intentional or not, many will interpret them as a statement, which is fine by me...nt