ITALY: Fashion guru Giorgio Armani shows off Italy's official Olympics kit, with the designer hoping for a gold medal in the style stakes

Record ID: 330727

  • Title: ITALY: Fashion guru Giorgio Armani shows off Italy's official Olympics kit, with the designer hoping for a gold medal in the style stakes
  • Date: 11th May 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DESIGNER GIORGIO ARMANI SAYING: "The fact that I have been chosen (to design these outifts) is a recognition to the value of what I do. Fashion represents a great Italian flag for the whole world and it is a beautiful idea to combine it with sports. Let's hope sports will be as glorious." ATHLETES WEARING OUTFITS TALKING TO JOURNALISTS DURING RECEPTION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN DIVER AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALIST TANIA CAGNOTTO SAYING: "The Olympic medal is the only one I'm missing so I really hope to get there." VARIOUS OF ATHLETES DURING RECEPTION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN FENCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALIST ANDREA CASSARA SAYING: "There is still some time to go before the Olympics, I'll think about it later. I will be in two competitions, I hope to do my best, without thinking too much about it. I have already taken part in two Olympics and I hope to have a great time." ITALIAN FENCER VALENTINA VEZZALI, FIVE-TIMES OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND SHOWING HER UNIFORM (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN FENCER VALENTINA VEZZALI SAYING: "Firstly, to be here today wearing Italy's official outfit is a great satisfaction. Also to have made it to participate to my fifth Olympic Games is a great enterprise. Once in London, I'll try to do my best and also to have a bit of fun." GIORGIO ARMANI AND GIANNI PETRUCCI RECEPTION IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Fashion,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACA10R93WHUKDILTRFX35L4CMM
  • Story Text: Italy's world famous fashion designer Giorgio Armani unveiled his country's official Olympics uniforms in Milan on Thursday (May 10), vowing to "bring Italian style" to London 2012.
    Fifteen Italian Olympians took to the catwalk to model the EA7 Emporio Armani outfits.
    "The fact that I have been chosen is a recognition to the value of what I do," the 77-year old designer Armani said.
    "Fashion represents a great Italian flag for the whole world and it is a beautiful idea to combine it with sports.
    "Let's hope sports will be as glorious" Armani said.
    Diver Tania Cagnotto, who won four bronze medal and a silver one at World Championhips, was one of the models.
    "The Olympic medal is the only one I'm missing so I really hope to get there" she said, of her hopes for London 2012.
    Andrea Cassara', a fencer, is a veteran Italian Olympian and won a bronze medal for Italy in 2004 in Athens in the foil competion.
    "There is still some time to go for the Olympics, I'll think about it later," Cassara' said.
    "I will be in two competitions, I hope to do my best, without thinking too much.
    "I have already took part to two Olympics and I hope to have a great time" he added.
    One of Italy's most successful Olympians, Valentina Vezzali, also modelled the new outfits and was suitably impressed.
    Vezzali, a fencer, has won five Olympic gold medals over the last three Games - in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.
    "First, to be here today wearing Italy's official outfit is a great satisfaction," Vezzali said.
    "Also to have made it to participate to my fifth Olympic Games is a great enterprise.
    "Once in London, I'll try to do my best and also to have a bit of fun," she added.
    Armani's Olympics kit is made up of 50 items and it includes a trolly and a portable wardrobe.
    The Olympic Games begin in London on July 27.
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