Olympic Opening Ceremony: 5 Best and 5 Worst Country Outfits
The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo started two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, but the event is the official start of the Olympics. The biggest highlight is the “Parade…
The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo started two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, but the event is the official start of the Olympics.
The biggest highlight is the "Parade of Nations" in which each country competing enters Olympic Stadium led by their nation's flag while also donning a special outfit. However, not every Olympic outfit is created equal.
For some fashion fun, here's the ranking of the five best and five worst country outfits (and a few honorable mentions) from the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Honorable Mention: Iceland
Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesMany of the countries went the athleisure route with their Opening Ceremony outfits, but Iceland's gear looked the most like PJs and win points for comfort.
Honorable Mention: El Salvador
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesEl Salvador's outfits seem simple, but those patterned pants are a delight!
Honorable Mention: Tonga
Hannah McKay - Pool/Getty ImagesTonga only gets an honorable mention because for Pita Taufatofua, it's more about a lack of an outfit than anything.
5. Worst: USA
Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesUgh...Ralph Lauren, AGAIN?! Why we want all of our athletes to look like they're about to head to a country club is beyond reasoning. Can we, for once, just not look snooty at the Olympics, please?
5. Best: Latvia
Hannah McKay - Pool/Getty ImagesLatvia took a risk dressing their women athletes in a metallic silver dress, but it paid off as they stood out in a great way.
4. Worst: Great Britain
Hannah McKay - Pool/Getty ImagesIf you're Great Britain and your outfit isn't Union Jacked-out like you're a member of Def Leppard or the Spice Girls, you've failed. Plus, these outfits are just boring.
4. Best: Aruba
Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesWhite pants were super popular during the Opening Ceremony, but Aruba wore them best with their male athletes pairing them with a gradient colored blazer. The women wore a beautiful dress in the same gradient color scheme, and all of the athletes wore stylish fedoras.
3. Worst: Belgium
Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesI'm all for a bold print, but this is just ugly.
3. Best: Kenya
Maja Hitij/Getty ImagesUnlike Belgium, Team Kenya's risk on a bold plaid print was a success, and they stood out among all of the other nations.
2. Worst: South Africa
Clive Rose/Getty ImagesA hideous print top for the men, a hideous print romper for the women, and they all are wearing the same ugly brown shoes. Ew!
2. Best: Tuvalu
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesTuvalu, a tiny island nation in the South Pacific, sent only two athletes to the Tokyo Olympics: Matie Stanley and Karalo Hepoiteloto Maibuca. Both, however, looked outstanding wearing traditional Tuvaluan clothing as they carried their nation's flag.
1. Worst: Italy
Hannah McKay - Pool/Getty ImagesGiorgio Armani designed this Pac-Man monstrosity. It's all kinds of wrong that makes us ask, "WHY?!"
1. Best: Cook Islands
Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesFlag bearers Kirsten Andrea Fisher-Marsters and Wesley Tikiariki Roberts of Team Cook Islands simply look chic AF. They're making their entrance into the Opening Ceremony look more like a strut on the catwalk.
1. Best: Cook Islands
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesSeriously...just look at them! GORGEOUS!
