It's been a week since the Malaysian Olympics contingent's attire was revealed, and let's take a moment to remember that many others, like you, found the initial introduction of the attire disappointing.
In fact, it received significant backlash from Malaysian netizens and even caught the attention of international content creators.
Read: Malaysia Unveils 2024 Olympics Attire, Disappointing Everyone’s Expectations
Throughout the last week of June 2024, the attire became a major topic of discussion, sparking creativity among netizens who took it upon themselves to create custom designs. They showcased their own ideas and even utilized AI-generated concepts for the attire.
Read: M'sians Showcase Creative Designs For National Team After Disappointing Olympic Outfit Reveal
Read: Olympic Council Malaysia & Yonex To Redesign Olympic Attire Following Massive Public Backlash
After careful consideration, the outcry from fans was acknowledged last Friday (28 June), prompting the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to declare a complete overhaul of the national contingent’s Olympic apparel in response to widespread criticism. OCM President Tan Sri Norza Zakaria unveiled plans to redesign and enhance the current attire to better reflect Malaysia’s stature at the Olympics and to align with public expectations.
First Look At The New Design
Hey look, no mannequins! This time it’s Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik (left).
As of July 2nd, the OCM has unveiled a revamped design for the attire of Malaysia's national contingent heading to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, featuring more prominent tiger stripes. Tan Sri Norza Zakaria emphasized that the new attire places greater emphasis on the tiger motif, which was lacking in the previous version. The updated jackets now prominently display tiger stripes against a black background.
In addition, the new design highlights the Malaysian flag and the five Olympic Rings, which have been redesigned to accurately reflect their original colours. The previous design, criticized for its use of gold instead of the national colours, has been updated to better showcase national pride.
Where’s The Yonex Logo?
The new jacket notably excludes the logo of Yonex Sunrise Malaysia, the official sponsor of the Malaysian team, following special permission granted by the council. This decision arose from the timely issue, necessitating the use of fabric from a different manufacturer for both the jacket and t-shirt, hence the absence of the YY logo. It was highlighted that this adjustment required an agreement process aligned with Yonex Sunrise Malaysia's standard operating procedures.
OCM expressed appreciation to Yonex Sunrise Malaysia for their cooperation in allowing the redesign of the official attire. They also extended gratitude to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh for respecting OCM’s role as the primary council of the National Sports Association, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Malaysia's National Olympic Council since 1954.
Hopes For Unwavering Support For The Contingent
OCM aims that the newly introduced design will embody the spirit of the tiger, which has symbolized the Malaysian contingent since its debut at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.
"We hope this brighter pattern and motif not only emphasises the identity and uniformity of the contingent, but more importantly, symbolises their strength and courage to compete on behalf of the nation," said Norza.
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics is closely approaching and Malaysia will be represented by a total of 25 athletes (12 male and 13 female) competing across 9 different sports. The Games are scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
As we eagerly anticipate the opening, our heartfelt wishes go out to our athletes. We hope they excel in their events and return home adorned with medals, particularly the coveted gold medal we've been awaiting!
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media & various cross-references for context.
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