The 2022 Olympics in Beijing have picked up speed and the day after the opening ceremony there was a lot of discussion in Italy - about China and the outfits of the Italian team. Has Italy made a fool of itself as a fashion country?
by Uwe Bödeker (ubo)
Olympia 2022 as a catwalk? At the youth games, every country naturally wants to present its participants in perfect style. This is especially true in fashion-conscious countries like Italy. But did the Italians really make the right choice this time? There were voices on Twitter who saw a fashion scandal.
After the opening ceremony on February 4, 2022, the Olympics were of course also the big topic in Italy. The media judged China's staging.
Olympia 2022: This is what the Italian media write
But it wasn't just about the hosts that were talked about, the outfits of the Italian team in particular caused mixed reactions.
Olympia 2022: Italy shows up in oversized ponchos
Is what the Italian athletes are wearing appropriate for the self-proclaimed fashion country of Italy with the style metropolises of Milan and Rome? The team marched into Beijing's Olympic Stadium in oversized ponchos in the national colors of green, white and red.
Tuttosport proudly wrote: "Colors and happiness chase away all corona worries in Beijing, at least at the opening ceremony."
However, the ponchos are causing a stir on Twitter. A fan writes: "Italy. The country of fashion." Another user is annoyed by the Italians' elevator: "Italy – this poncho is terrible, very bad."
Olympia 2022: You can argue about taste in fashion
Others, on the other hand, find the Olympic outfit great: “Which country was best dressed? For me there are three winners: Ghana, Italy and Canada.” Well, as we all know, it's easy to argue about taste - or not.
Olympia 2022: No diplomatic boycott by Italy
China's President Xi Jinping then also ensured good taste experiences. He held a banquet for foreign heads of state and government and representatives of international organizations on Saturday, February 5. It was the first diplomatic reception in about two years. Xi had not recently met any political representatives in person because of Corona. Now, in the “Great Hall of the People”, there was a feast with musical performances.
Xi told attendees that everyone should stick together to "work together for a world of lasting peace." Official photos showed a pompous banquet table with a miniature winter landscape at its center. Many western countries are diplomatically boycotting the games.
Olympia 2022: That's why Italy had to participate
Italy, on the other hand, had announced the participation of its representatives in Beijing. Probably also because they have to go.
The reason: Traditionally, it is the task of the next Olympic city to take over the flag at the closing ceremony. The next Winter Olympic Games will take place in northern Italy (Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo) from February 6th to 22nd, 2026.
