UK Athletics (UKA) the National Governing Body for athletics in the UK has today revealed the new team kit that will be worn for the first time at this summer’s major athletics Championships featuring the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team. Most notably followers of the GB & NI team will welcome the return of the Union flag to the front of the vest, following feedback from athletes and fans across the UK.

 

As well as the flag and the impactful styling, the redesigned Nike GB & NI kit will also feature;

·         Dri-FIT Aeroswift, a new material that helps athletes manage heat and moisture. 

·         Material construction designed to support the body’s natural cooling system by helping wick away sweat and dispersing it throughout the surface of the garment for quick evaporation. 

·         A mesh engineered structure with knitted structures and subtle ridges that helps increase breathability and provides more stretch compared to previous kits. 

·         Sustainability at its heart with a minimum of at least 50% recycled content by weight of garment.

In support of the unveiling of the new iconic design, UKA today also launches “Where It Starts” - a campaign to champion diversity and togetherness in athletics ahead of a packed summer of Championship action.

The campaign, opening today at the Muller UK Athletics Championships kicks off a huge summer for UKA, which will see the GB & NI team competing at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, USA 15-24 July and the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany 15-21 August. It tells the stories behind GB & NI athletes and their journey into track and field, demonstrating the truly inclusive nature of a sport that is accessible to all. Featured athletes include Olympian Laura Muir, Paralympians Thomas Young and Sammi Kinghorn, and a host of other well-known names.

The campaign will reach out to new audiences through digital and content story-telling, attracting fans who may not usually follow the sport to take a more active interest and get involved through sign-posting towards joining a local run, walk or push group, attending a club or even watching a live athletics event where they can be further inspired by GB athletes.  

Mark Munro, Interim CEO of UK Athletics said: “We are grateful to Nike for designing and launching this striking new kit ahead of one of our biggest ever summer campaigns. To have the GB & NI athletes competing with the union flag returned to its rightful place and a fresh dynamic look is a further boost in what is lining up to be an exciting few months.

“We’re delighted that our new campaign works in tandem with revealing our new GB & NI kit for the summer. “Where it Starts is about recognising where the GB & NI team athletes came from, how they got started and highlighting the inclusivity of the sport. Every athlete pulling on the vest started somewhere, whether a local club, school sports, community events or street athletics – the list is endless.

“We want to wish all our athletes the best of luck for a summer full of action and this weekend is literally ‘where it starts’ for the journey ahead.”