TORONTO -- Canadaâs Olympic team appears to be putting their meme-worthy formal wear to bed after announcing a partnership with Lululemon to provide their clothing for the next four Olympic Games.
The Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced on Thursday that Lululemon is the new âofficial outfitterâ for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, in a deal that extends to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
âSupporting these incredible athletes as they prepare to compete on the worldâs largest sporting stage is a privilege,â Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald said in a news release.
âThrough this partnership, all of us at Lululemon are honoured to play our part to inspire, unite and transform the world through sport.â
Lululemon takes over the contract from Hudsonâs Bay Co., which had been outfitting Canadaâs athletes since the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy.
During the Tokyo Olympic Games, Canadaâs athletes wore a âCanadian tuxedoâ jean jacket for the closing ceremony that New York Times culture writer Dave Itzkoff described as âthe gang that comes after you if you say you tried watching âSchitt's Creek' but couldn't get into it."
In 2018, the outfits given to Canadaâs winter athletes included a red and black flannel shirt, similar to what a stereotypical lumberjack would wear.
While many of Lululemonâs designs are still to be announced, the apparel company has unveiled a âfuture legacy bagâ in support of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and Paralympic Foundation of Canada, as well as a teaser image that includes a red puffy jacket and red athletic wear.
âThis is a partnership that will provide high-quality and stylish gear for Team Canada and also seek to promote and support sport for people of all abilities,â said Karen OâNeill, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.