RT.com
Russian hackers? The designer is a Russian spy? Putin’s order? Social media are totally abuzz over Team USA’s Olympic opening ceremony uniforms. Why? Because users say the white-blue-red coloring on the athletes’ T-shirts looks like the Russian flag.
Introducing the 2016 Opening Ceremony uniforms! #TeamUSA will be looking GOOD thanks to @RalphLauren! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rMnLIq87cH
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 29, 2016
The uniform was developed by designer Ralph Lauren and presented on Friday morning. According to Team USA, the“uniform is fresh and sporty, with classic elements, and features an all-American palette of red, white and blue.”
Lauren has been creating outfits for the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams since 2008.
http://twitter.com/mersik84/status/759369993448464384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Users on social media pointed out that the pattern of the T-shirt has white, blue and red bars and when the T-shirt is paired with a buttoned-up navy blazer, only three bars are seen and it is definitely a Russian flag.
http://twitter.com/robinmonotti/status/759349771660357632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Other American users suggested that it wasn’t actually Lauren who made the uniform, but “sleeping agents” of the ‘scary’ KGB, the main security agency for the Soviet Union.
#Putin's hybrid warfare: KGB sleeping agents made #US Olympic team wear #Russia n flag.https://t.co/hcwEOooR7v pic.twitter.com/QK9yKqsB8d
— Alex Bukovsky (@BungeeWedgie) July 30, 2016
Russian users seemed to like the ‘KGB story’, suggesting that Lauren himself may be a KGB spy and thus develop such clothes.
Модельер Ральф Лорен шпион КГБ https://t.co/pKq12BAaJb
— 22 года дней сурка (@beshtaudziov) July 30, 2016
Others suggested that Russian famous designer Valentin Yudashkin who has repeatedly designed the uniforms for Russian athletes at various Olympic games had a part to play.
“Yudashkin sent his spy-friend to the US,” @A_Denisov wrote.
Ахаха, и это сборная #США, на минуточку))) Не иначе, Юдашкин заслал в штаты друга-шпийона))) pic.twitter.com/Z1om2lFyVP
— Aleksej Denisov (@A_Denisov) July 30, 2016
Others suggested that the Kremlin is the main culprit.
The influence of Kremlin is so strong in the #US that American team's gonna WEAR the Russian flag in Rio!😂 #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/5q8TTeKY5n
— Kate Stetsen (@EStetsen) July 30, 2016
Some Americans even got upset and immediately called on the athletes to “toss out” the uniform and get rid of the white pants.
http://twitter.com/SpencerLeone/status/759173838202515456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Other suggestions why the uniforms look so “Russian,” is that they were sewn by Russian crafty hackers.
Another Russian hacking job? Team USA opening-ceremony shirt looks like Russian flag. pic.twitter.com/Gnw1hjBsBP
— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) July 29, 2016
“Russian hackers broke [into US Olympic uniform factory],”suggested Twitter user @Like_A_ru
«Русские хакеры взломали»: На олимпийской форме сборной США изображен российский флаг https://t.co/upgz4Fm81Q
— Лайка (@Like_A_ru) July 30, 2016
“Russia in the heart” teased @spleanomaniya
http://twitter.com/spleanomaniya/status/759330628651319296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“This would have been the uniform for Russian Olympic team, but this belongs to US,” added @aviacop.
http://twitter.com/aviacop/status/759311963046502400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And of course no US-Russian joke would be complete without the Russian president. Russian users mockingly wrote that it definitely was Vladimir Putin who was behind the US Team uniforms, probably referring to the Western mainstream media’s trend of constantly pointing fingers at the Russian leader.
Тут в Штатах подгорает малость.
На парадной форме олимпийской сборной США нашли российский флаг. pic.twitter.com/EYMGZQDqlt— Новости. Как есть (@nourlnews) July 30, 2016
“Oh this Putin,” wrote @AndrisUdo
http://twitter.com/AndrisUdo/status/759142203176448004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Oh, Putin, stop!” laughed @FradkinOleg.
Это форма сборной США на ОИ-2016. Обратите внимание на майки ! К сердцу цвета Российского триколора. Путин прекрати pic.twitter.com/PieQVJ75bU
— djulk9801 (@FradkinOleg) July 30, 2016