This unused example of the Sydney 2000 Olympic torchbearer uniform was designed and manufactured in 1999 by Bonds. Around 10,000 Olympic torchbearers wore the uniforms between 12 May and 15 September 2000 as they relayed the flame from Greece to Sydney. During this period, the uniforms received extensive national and international exposure, particularly during the opening ceremony when celebrated Australian athletes relayed the flame to the Olympic cauldron.

The uniform design itself fulfils both functional and aesthetic requirements. Its bright colours and reflective dyes represent a current interpretation of the new millennium and purity of the torch relay. The graphic elements exemplify the insignia that accompanied the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Moreover, the lightweight fabric and casual style ideally suited the athletic nature of the relay, and the bright colours and reflective dyes ensured that the uniform appeared prominently amongst a sea of spectators and media.

In May 2000, SOCOG anxiously watched its first major event, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay, progress from Greece to Sydney. Like previous torch relays, this event was designed to awaken an Olympic spirit in preparation for the coming Games. In Australia, the relay assumed an even greater public function by celebrating local cultures and travelling within an hour's drive of eight-five per cent of the population. Ultimately, this segment involved 1,000 communities and 10,000 torchbearers, and attained a festive, community complexion.

SOCOG's earliest visions for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay looked towards extensive community participation. In 1999, it devised a daily schedule of community festivities and sought torchbearers who had contributed to either the nation or their local community. Nomination forms featured in local newspapers and stated that nominees should be twelve years of age or older, Australian citizens or permanent residents, and capable of running one kilometre with a 2-kilogram torch. (These specifications exceeded the eventual requirements as the torch would only weigh less than one kilogram, and each torchbearer would run no more than 500 metres.) Once selected, torchbearers would be assigned an official uniform.

Australian clothing manufacturers, Bonds, received the lucrative contract to design and manufacture the Sydney 2000 Torch Relay uniform. At this time, Bonds was also designing and manufacturing similar uniforms for torch relay escort runners, Paralympic torchbearers, and torch relay crew. In a concise though slightly abstract design brief, SOCOG requested that the uniform would encapsulate the historical purity and simplicity of the torch relay; feature the Sydney 2000 Fluid Energy graphic; incorporate the colours and image of the actual torch; and symbolise the new millennium. The result was a simple white cotton uniform with a long sleeve t-shirt, drawstring shorts, sports socks, and runners that belonged to the torchbearers themselves. Cyan and reflective silver dyes were used to apply the graphic details, including the Olympic rings, Fluid Energy graphic, and torch relay logo. The bright colours within the uniform symbolised the purity and simplicity of the torch relay. The reflective dyes represented the new millennium.

Designed by Bonds, c.2000

Made by Bonds, c.2000

Unused

Made for and owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after use in the Games.

Torchbearer uniform, Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay, cotton, designed and made by Bonds c.2000

Consists of a t-shirt, shorts and socks. The t- shirt is long sleeved, size X-small, white cotton with long sleeves. Machine knit, ribbed binding around wrists and neck of the t-shirt. Down the front and back right side of the t-shirt is the fluid energy pattern in aqua, silver and white. The Olympic rings are featured in silver under the ribbed neck on the front of the shirt. On the left side of the t-shirt in aqua is the torch relay logo. The shorts are size X- small, made from white cotton fabric and have an elasticised and drawstring waist. Sewn vertically down each side of the shorts are 2 stripes of aqua material. At the base of the right leg is an aqua transfer featuring the torch relay logo figure running with a torch. Also included is a pair of white cotton, nylon, elastane machine knitted socks.

Made: 2000

2001/84/460

2000