WASHINGTON - The US-China Olympic rivalry heated up in an unfashionable way Thursday when a top US lawmaker suggested burning the US team's outfits for the London opening ceremony because they were made in China.
"I'm so upset. I think the Olympic Committee should be ashamed of themselves," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters when asked about an ABC News report on the origin of the Ralph Lauren-designed uniforms. "I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them," an outraged Reid added. "If they have to wear nothing but a symbol that says USA on it, painted by hand, that is what they should wear."
There was no immediate reaction from Lauren, 72, or the New York-based house that he founded, which earlier this week unveiled the blue-blazer uniforms and berets that US athletes will wear at the Games' opening ceremony on July 27.
A Congress that has rarely been so divided was for once, in this bitter election year, united in its condemnation of the US Olympic Committee (USOC). "You'd think they'd know better," Republican House Speaker John Boehner said of the fashion kerfuffle during a press briefing.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, his predecessor as speaker, also expressed her disappointment at the fashion faux pas. "We take great pride in our Olympic athletes," Pelosi said. "They represent the very best, and they're so excellent," she said. "It's all so beautiful, and they should be wearing uniforms that are made in America." USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky defended the decision. "Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the US Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," he said. "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London."
Outraged US Olympic sports fans also made their feelings known on the official US Olympic Committee Twitter site. "talk about denigrating USA athletes," wrote one fan. "Bugging me that @RalphLauren couldn't make the @USOlympic uniforms in the US. God knows there's plenty of empty factories & qualified pple," tweeted Mary Marcanotio.