Russia unveils neutral uniform for Olympic athletes

MOSCOW: Russia’s Olympic Committee said Monday its clothing supplier had begun kitting out athletes who will compete at next month’s Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea under a neutral flag.

“The kitting out of Russian athletes who will go to the Olympic Games at Pyeongchang starts on January 22 and will continue through February 7,” Russia’s Olympic Committee said in a statement.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned Russia from the Games in Pyeongchang over state-sponsored doping.But clean Russian competitors have been allowed to participate under under a neutral flag as an “Olympic Athlete from Russia”, among other conditions.

Russia has denied the allegations. The new kit of grey, red and white colours — by the official clothing supplier ZASPORT — replaces the white, red and blue of the Russian flag. The uniforms will have no national markings and will feature a logo with the words “Olympic Athlete from Russia”.