Egypt Olympic Uniforms Fake, Say Athletes
Athletes on the Egyptian Olympic team are caught in the middle of a counterfeiting mess that involves the uniforms they are supposed to wear during the games.
The allegations of fake gear came about through Twitter when a member of the Egyptian synchronized swimming team, Yomna Khallaf, stated that Egyptian athletes were given fake Nike uniforms from the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC).
"Yes it is [true]. The bags for example have big nike logo in the front and the zippers are addidas," Khallaf tweeted, adding in a later post: "Its [sic] so frustrating that we had to pay extra 2000 pounds to have other proper stuff to wear so that we can look okay not even good."
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A Nike representative said the company provided the Egyptian team with training, travel and village wear but no uniforms for competition. The company was also concerned about the allegations, but believed that it was an isolated incident.
"Nike was recently made aware that the Egyptian Olympic Committee chose a vendor for its athletes' training and village wear who is alleged to have supplied counterfeit footwear and apparel bearing the Nike trademarks," the rep said.
"We believe this issue with the EOC is an isolated incident. Nike consistently acts to protect its brand and actively engage with law enforcement agencies and Customs authorities to stop counterfeit product reaching consumers and athletes," the representative added.
When asked if the athletes were given counterfeit uniforms, a spokesperson for the EOC denied any knowledge of wrongdoing on the part of the committee and insisted that it was the fault of a distributor who gave them the forged uniforms.
"There is a problem we had with the distributor for Nike and the agent … We got the clothes and bags and shoes from a distributor and then the agent said that some of these items were not delivered by him. Now the agent is filing a court case against the distributor," Alla Eldin Gabr, EOC spokesman, said in a statement.
