7 June 2016; Team Ireland athletes, from left to right, 400m hurdler Thomas Barr, gymnast Ellis O’Reilly, diver Oliver Dingley, 1500m runner Ciara Mageen, modern pentathlete Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe, boxer Katie Taylor, marathon runner Mick Clohisey, badminton player Chloe Magee and hockey player Davey Harte at the launch of the Team Ireland Olympics kit in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.
Global athletic leader New Balance and the Olympic Council of Ireland officially unveiled the Team Ireland Olympic kit in Dublin on Tuesday, 7th June 2016.
The official launch event, held at Smock Alley in Dublin, gave attendees a first look at the kit which Team Ireland will wear at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The team kit features colours inspired by Ireland’s presidential blue in combination with the country’s traditional green, white and orange.
Attendees to the event were given access to Team Ireland stars including:
- Thomas Barr, New Balance sponsored track and field athlete
- Ciara Mageean, New Balance sponsored middle distance runner
- Katie Taylor, boxer
- Ellis O’Reilly, gymnast
- Oliver Dingley, diver
- Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe, pentathlete
- Davey Harte, hockey goalkeeper
- Chloe Magee, badminton player
- Mick Clohisey, marathon runner
Team Ireland will wear the New Balance custom high performance apparel for use in competition and warm up; and leisurewear for medal ceremonies, travelling and public appearances. The new kit includes items such as singlets, crops, sleeveless tops, briefs, shorts and tights.
The kit incorporates New Balance’s ultra-lightweight fabrics and technologies that enhance fit, utilise minimal construction, are quick drying and provide superior support.
Deirdre Fitzgerald, New Balance Vice President, Apparel, said, “We are incredibly proud of the innovative design and performance technologies as well as the lifestyle elements that have gone into creating this year’s Team Ireland Olympic kit. We understand how important the right kit is to an athlete’s performance, and we can’t wait to see what Team Ireland achieves on the world stage this summer.”
Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said: “We have been working with New Balance for a number of years now, and we are delighted to have New Balance’s continued support.
“We couldn’t be happier with the new kit, and we have no doubt it will help support our athletes as they embark on their journey to success in Rio this summer.”
New Balance has been the official apparel and footwear sponsor of the Olympic Council of Ireland since 2013 when they entered into a multi-year sponsorship deal.
