So what about those free Nike unforms for Lyon-goers? Crickets!
Five months ago, I reported from the USATF Anaheim convention that Nike would foot the bill for Team USA unforms for Lyon worlds, whose entry deadline is June 2. Five weeks ago, I began sending out queries on the status of the free kits (as the Brits call them). The result? Crickets. Nobody knows. In recent days, I’ve been getting private email from athletes asking: How do I get my uniform? Wish I had an answer. Gary Snyder, our national masters chair, was gleeful in making the announcement in December. Now he’s AWOL on the issue. Perhaps he’s fighting a bureaucratic battle behind the scenes. Whatever. I’m now taking the issue up with the highest possible track and field authorities. I’m writing to Nike. Stay tuned.
Nike corporate headquarters are in Beaverton, Oregon. Give us our unis, Phil!
11 Responses
Ken, thanks for looking into this for us! I’m pretty psyched to get a new stars ‘n bars uniform :-).
I asked the USATF the question when I registered for Lyon (question via email) answer still missing in action, no response to that specific question!!!
(Think it can be categorized as wishful thinking)
Please keep up on this think its time we get some support we put a lot of money into Nike
Buying a uniform is not an impossibility but the USATF Website has very few in stock. If we need to purchase them they need to re-stock the website and let us know ASAP!
According to what I see on the USATF website about USATF uniforms for WMA Lyon – 2004 and 2008 uniform tops can be worn. That sounds like the Nike new uniforms are wishful thinking. Or….the website is out of date.
However if one needs to buy a 2004 or 2008 uniform top – for women – the sizes available are very limited.
Oh well – it is mid May and there are 2 1/2 months before the meet – will be interesting to see what happens.
I would like to take a moment and try and clear up some misconceptions concerning Masters Athletes receiving free uniforms from Nike as part of the partnership with USATF.
First, it was announced during the 2014 Annual meeting that beginning in 2017, masters athletes would receive a free uniform for a world championship event as part of the uniform agreement with Nike. This agreement is a step in the right direction for all Masters athletes in the USA.
Max Siegel, USATF CEO, decided to take it a step further and stated to Gary Synder, USATF Masters Chair that he would extend that to include the 2015 WMA championships, not sure about 2016. In my opinion, this was a courtesy of USATF which was not in the agreement with Nike.
Prior to this announcement, to my knowledge Masters athletes competing in World events were not included in the uniform agreement. I would also like to add for those that were around competing before 2004, the uniforms we had were made by Insport, which were not of the greatest quality, or athletes just showed up with anything with USA on their chest.
If we are to compare ourselves to other countries, other than Germany, no other country has uniforms available to them like we do. Currently, USA masters athletes have been given he opportunity to purchase the last Olympiad uniform. Germany is the only country that I am aware of that lets their masters athletes purchase the current Olympiad uniform. Also, great Britain athletes have a separate uniform all together that is not even affiliated with the national uniform. Then there is the rest of the competing countries that have less than what I have stated here. Some countries Masters athletes have no national uniform at all and compete in normal track gear. I state this because we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to wear the last Olympiad uniform when some countries have nothing at all. Our voices have been heard over the years, that we want to look more unified and we are beginning to see some changes.
The team apparel department is a small group of employees that packs uniforms for some twenty plus teams competing throughout the year. Our masters representative at the National Office is made up of one to two individuals that oversee all of the Masters events as well as their other duties within the national office.
For example an Olympic or World championship team is made up of sixty-five athletes plus a staff of 20 coaches, managers, trainers and medical personal. A total of 85 members per gender. As of today we have over 200 athletes signed up for the World Championships in France with two weeks left before the deadline.
Normally uniforms go out to other teams about two or three weeks before the event. The staff is aware that such a short window would be tight for a team as large as ours, but they are still working on a timeline. Everyone has to remember we are not the only show in town. THIS IS TRACK SEASON. Take a moment and look at the national calendar and see all the championships coming up that the national office has to prepare for.
This is a new project for the national office and t I’m assuming they are figuring out the logistics to ensure this is a success before they implement anything.
USATF understands the sensitivity of the entry deadline and shipping the uniforms to those that have signed up. I know it is a little uncomfortable not knowing when it will happen and I do not have control when individuals return messages but unless our chair, Gary Synder has been informed of a change, I would like for us to stay calm.
By no means am I suggesting that you should not be concerned that you haven’t received any information about the uniforms. Again this is a HUGE step for master’s athletes in the USA. I expect the information about the uniforms to be posted very soon. We still have time and I’m sure the issue is being addressed and until you are told that you are not getting a free uniform, stay calm. we don’t want to appear ungrateful and I know this is a blog were others express their opinions, etc. but we are seen by all who read this as we are better then this USA Masters Athletes!
Also I would like to add that the uniforms currently available on the site are the are the free Nike uniforms you will be receiving. If you are concerned that they will run out of a particular size you can always purchase your uniform in advance. With all of the other expenses we have to compete in this event. A free fifty dollar uniform is not going to stop me from enjoying the competition.
Your Vice Chair
Robert, thanks for the information, and if I read it correctly, we MIGHT get uniforms at no cost from USATF and Nike, but then again we MIGHT NOT. So, we are back to where we started, meaning we are in the dark.
Here is where the problem lies for folks like me that will be competing at worlds for the first time and don’t have a uniform from previous championships. You mention that we are free to purchase uniforms on the USATF site, which i would be more than happy to do if that was possible. unfortunately, it is not possible, because there are no uniform pieces available in men’s size medium. I agree, whether I pay for my uniform or not is not going to matter that much to me, what will matter is racing is something that fits properly, regardless of the price or the maker or the specific olympiad it dates to.
Thank you for the clarification Robert. Am I to assume that the uniforms “currently available on the site” are the 2008 Olympic uniforms? If so – there are very few sizes available at the moment. Most of the sizes are “out of stock”. Is there another page of uniforms to look at? I see another page of uniforms labeled “members-only- Aisle” which has some very expensive uniforms that apparently were designed for the the elite athletes recently. The prices run from $250 to $350 for a top or a bottom. Certainly these cannot be the ones that will be offered to the masters “for $50). I assume that somewhere there are some singlets and shirts for masters that are not so expensive and more suitable for the wide variety of ages and needs of masters going to Lyon.
Mary the uniforms are under the Team USA gear on the merchandise webpage. The prices range from $35.00 to $60.00 for the uniform pieces. We are supposed to be wearing the navy blue version of the uniform. I noticed that they are out of most of the smaller sizes. So I’m not sure if they have put those back or if athletes will be allowed to wear the other colors that may be available in their size. I will have to confirm that with Gary.
Most usa runners have the all blue or blue bottom with white top I have the older blue with red top but thats not the right uniform I believe
See video of Max Siegel at Anaheim convention pledging free uniforms for Lyon worlds 1 hour 33 minutes into clip;
http://www.usatf.org/Events—Calendar/2014/Annual-Meeting/Opening-Session-Video.aspx
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