Malaysia's 'ugly' Olympic kit to get facelift after criticism; event organiser apologises over mannequin unveiling
Footage of the unveiling ceremony showed mannequins first wrapped in black cloth, with the fabric later removed following a countdown.
Malaysia's Olympic attire, as well as the unveiling of the outfits for the Paris Games, has been widely criticised. (Photos: Facebook/Olympic Council of Malaysia)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Olympic kit will now get a facelift following a barrage of criticism that called the outfit ugly and uninspired.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) said on Friday (Jun 28) that it has decided to improve the existing design to bring out the tiger motif on the jackets more clearly.
The OCM logo on the apparel will also be revised to better reflect the Malaysian flag.
Unveiled over the weekend, the gold-themed outfits with tiger stripe designs for the Paris Games were meant to reflect Malaysia's pursuit of gold medals, according to sports officials.
But they have been criticised by some, with fans online branding the designs "ugly", "cheap-looking" or outdated.
Among the outfits were tracksuits, polo shirts and T-shirts, with some fans also unhappy at how they were introduced - on a row of mannequins installed askew and donning wigs.
Disapproving remarks poured in from Sunday soon after the uniforms were revealed to the public during a ceremony at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur, part of a 2024 World Olympic Day celebration.
Footage of the ceremony showed the mannequins first wrapped in black cloth, with the fabric later removed following a countdown. Celebratory music and a smattering of applause could be heard.
A Facebook post about the event by the council attracted dozens of negative comments, with some calling the look “extremely shameful” and “hideous”.
APOLOGIES
In a statement on Friday, OCM president Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the council will discuss the design tweaks with the official apparel manufacturer, Yonex Sunrise.
He said the decision to improve upon the look was made after taking into account feedback from all parties, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Council and sports fans. OCM also acknowledged that the official jacket design was not well received.
"Indeed, OCM thanks all stakeholders and sports fans in general who care about the launch ceremony and the design of the official attire for the Malaysian contingent to Paris 2024 by providing constructive comments and views,” he said.
He also addressed criticism from some who were unhappy with how the flag on the outfits was in gold instead of the country's original red, blue, yellow and white.
"The gold version of the OCM logo, which combines the fluttering national flag and the five Olympic rings, complies with International Olympic Committee guidelines," said Mohamad Norza.
He emphasised that the logo was not a Malaysian flag that had been “altered or modified arbitrarily”.
“When used in the five-colour or polychrome version, the colours of the five rings are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. Blue, black and red are at the top, while yellow and green are at the bottom. The five-colour version can only be used on a white background according to the conditions set by the IOC.”
"If the background is anything other than white, a monochrome or single-colour version must be used. For example, if the background is black, the logo should be used in a contrasting single colour such as white, yellow or blue," said a statement.
The event organiser behind the widely panned unveiling, held at the upmarket The Exchange TRX mall, also issued an apology on Thursday.
“We acknowledge our shortcomings and take responsibility for any flaws in the management and organisation of the event as well as (for attracting) comments from fans and netizens that affect the overall image of OCM. We wish OCM and the Malaysian contingent the best of luck,” said managing director of MY Creative Moments, Wong Kang Woon.
He also apologised for any “weaknesses and confusion” that arose as a result.
DAMAGE CONTROL
Malaysia authorities had already gone into damage control mode earlier in the week.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh distanced herself from the debacle on Monday by saying on X that her ministry had no jurisdiction over the design and the responsibility was with the OCM.
Chef de Mission Hamidin Mohamad Amin, who is also OCM deputy president, said that the majority of the country's athletes who will compete in the upcoming Games had agreed with the design.
Hamidin on Tuesday acknowledged the criticism and said that the council may open opportunities for the public to contribute their designs for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Hamidin also admitted that it was a mistake to use mannequins to showcase the kits.
Yeoh on Thursday assured the public that the outfits would not be used for the Paris Games’ opening ceremony on Jul 26. Addressing the misconception, she emphasised that the plan was to use a separate “parade uniform” set.
