Rio Olympic swag may set a new standard for the gift bags given out to contestants in this year’s edition of the Summer Games. Like any other event where sponsors hope consumers will want to emulate the members of various teams, swag bags are a part of the material landscape.
One of the most talked about swag bags was Nike’s gift package, a duffel bag full of wearable merchandise that was given to all 1,200 members of Team USA on the company’s official website, they revealed the contents of the bags created for Team USA and Team Brazil. Aside from the uniforms provided by the athletic outfitter for medal ceremonies, each member received enough gear to show their team pride and Nike’s corporate sponsorship in almost any situation they might encounter at Olympic Village.
The Nike Rio Olympic swag bag for male members of Team USA included 41 items.
- 10 short sleeved t-shirts
- four long sleeved pullover shirts
- three pair of workout trousers
- four pair of shorts
- two pair of sandals
- three pair of athletic shoes
- two watches
- a pair of sunglasses
- a water bottle
- a passport case
- a wristband
- weights
- 2 pair of underpants
- two caps
- two drawstring bags
- a branded duffel bag
The women’s Rio swag bag from the House of Swoosh was a tad lighter with 40 items.
- two sports bras
- three pair workout leggings
- two pair of workout trousers
- six t-shirts
- four tank tops
- two warmup jackets
- two long sleeved pullovers
- two caps
- two pair of athletic shoes
- one pair of sandals
- three pair of footie socks
- four pair of shorts
- a water bottle
- a wrist strap
- a passport cover
- a watch
- a drawstring bag
- a branded duffel bag
Jeff Porter, a Team USA hurdler from Canton, Michigan, gave Click On Detroit a video preview of the gear provided to every team member by Nike and Ralph Lauren.
Of course everyone involved wants our athletes to look good, but even more than that is the hope that fans will want their own versions of the gear they see on the backs of their country’s athletes.
The Perfect Olympic Thing Is Out There Whether You’re Rocking It In Rio Or Cheering From Your Rumpus Room
The Olympic Shop is the official online store for everything to do with the games.
The store offers souvenir-type wares with everything from household decor to clothing. Would you prefer a memento of an earlier game? The store offers throwback duds from various Olympiads. The first of the modern games might not have offered T-shirts in 1986, but you can get a shirt commemorating the event.
Another source for some swell swag is the NBC Sports Store. If you prefer pins, pens, totes, or an official NBC Olympic fedora, they have you covered.
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Whatever your taste or desired price point, official or unofficial, some retailer somewhere will have what you want and it’s usually just a click away.
All the better if you’re shopping from the comfort of your own living room. According to Deirdre Fitzpatrick, a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Monterey, California, who traveled to Rio to cover the games, the bare necessities are much harder to find than the more popular T-shirts and keepsakes. It begs the question of how much discomfort offsets the cache of being there.
That bag of Rio Olympics swag might be worth it to the athletes. For everyone else? A trip to Target or Macy’s would probably suffice.
[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]