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Aussie Olympians to wear green and white

Australia's Olympians will strut onto the world stage at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony in sleek pale green and white suits.

Australian athletes pose in the Australian 2016 Rio Olympic Games Opening Ceremony uniform on March 30, 2016 in Sydney
Australian athletes pose in the Australian 2016 Rio Olympic Games Opening Ceremony uniform on March 30, 2016 in Sydney

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Source: AAP


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Australia's Olympic athletes and hopefuls have given their "Rio retro" opening ceremony uniform an early vote of approval.

Athletes will team tailored pinstriped pale green and white blazers with white bottoms for the opening ceremony to be held at the Maracana Stadium later this year.

The Sportscraft-designed kit includes a silk scarf displaying the Southern Cross for the women, while men will wear a green and gold knitted tie.

TOMS designed the white lace-up shoes.

In a special touch, the name of each athlete will be inscribed inside the jacket, along with the names of all Australian Olympic gold medallists in history.

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Both beach volleyballer Taliqua Clancy and cyclist Kaarle McCulloch said they loved it.

"I've been calling it the Rio retro look," McCulloch said.

"It's inspired from the 1924 Paris Olympics Games so there's a bit of history involved.

"It's a bit vintage and I particularly like the colour - I think the green is really beautiful."

Australian diving gold medallist and MC of Wednesday's unveiling in Sydney, Matthew Mitcham, said the athletes looked "scrumdiddlyumptious" in their "retro candy stripe".

Historically the opening ceremony uniform has remained a closely guarded secret until the actual event.

But in London 2012 the Australian Olympic Committee broke with tradition and revealed the strip early.

Chef de mission Kitty Chiller was certain this was the best move this time around.

"It's a galvanising moment for the team ... this is how we will be represented, this is who we are," Chiller said,

"So I think it's important to have it out there early."


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