The Colours of the Olympics

Red, White, Blue and Orange have been the predominant colours of these 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  Everywhere you look you’ll see a sea of folks wearing their national colours, and because these Games are Canada’s Games, there’s red and white wherever you look!  The symbolic Maple Leaf accentuates the new style on scarves, toques and jackets as the Maple Leaf flag, emblem of Canada, flutters proudly in the breeze.

Of course, the Americans are here too, sporting their navy fleeces and the Stars and Stripes.  The Dutch are predominant and bright as the torch flame in orange.  And everywhere you look, you’ll see the bright Mediterranean blue jackets of the Olympic volunteers and hosts. There are other colours too, but they seem to have paled beside the vibrant colours of Canada.

Shoppers can stock up on Olympic gear at The Bay or Zellers, authorized to sell authentic Olympic gear.  They’ve already sold well over 3 million red mittens.  And the lineups have been so long outside the downtown Bay Olympic shop that the store was forced to stay open 24 hours.  Olympic toys and mascots are popular too.  Quatshi, Mega, Sumi and Mukmuk are seen in almost as many places around town as the toques and mittens.  You can buy those at London Drugs as well as the Bay and Zellers outlets.  Not all stores are authorized to sell the Olympic merchandise but you can buy other brands at Lulumon, Old Navy, the Superstore, Roots and even the lowly Army and Navy store on East Hastings.

It might not be high fashion, but this is sports!  It’s hip to dress to support your team.  So don’t be afraid to dig out your red & white  gear and paste a maple leaf decal on your cheek, dye you hair or paint your face and patriotically wave that flag. You can even drape a flag around your shoulders for a cape.  Hey! Even the dogs are getting into the act.

PHOTOS by Ruth Kozak