WELL OUTFITTED FOR MELBOURNE

The best-dressed team we've ever sent to an Olympiad wears uniforms donated by American manufacturers

When America's 440-member Olympic team—including the athletes, coaches and officials—parades into the stadium at Melbourne for next Thursday's opening day ceremonies, they will be uniformly dressed in eggshell worsted blazers piped in blue, gold Olympic buttons glinting in the Australian sun, the U.S. Olympic shield ablaze on pockets and on cream-colored berets. The men will be wearing trousers of navy worsted; the women, skirts to match. And after opening day, all through the Games, the Americans down under, whether on the field or at leisure, will be uniformly clothed in a manner that will do the U.S. proud. For the first time our athletes, coaches and officials have been completely outfitted—from underwear out—with travel, parade and leisure uniforms, all given to the Olympic Supplies Committee by the textile and clothing manufacturers of the U.S., with the coordinating assistance of the Wool Bureau. For H. Jamison Swarts and his supplies committee, this solved a $127,000 problem. The only headaches left were minor ones—such as having a custom uniform tailored for Weight Lifter Paul Anderson of Toccoa, Ga., whose neck is 23½ inches and chest is 55 inches. Even with Anderson included, the average Olympian is only slightly larger than the average young American—42-inch-long suits for the men; size 14 for the girls. In addition to the uniforms, a variety of other items has been given to the athletes. The West German firm of Puma-Dassler gave 100 pairs of track shoes. Jantzen and Sacony furnished the girls with swimsuits and track uniforms, Kleinert with swim caps. Atlantic Products gave luggage and Martex 125 dozen towels. And Beech-Nut gave the team a two weeks' supply of chewing gum.

MEN'S OFFICIAL OLYMPIC UNIFORM
Tom Courtney, who will run the 800 meters for the U.S., wears his official parade uniform. Behind him are more of his 26 different items of apparel: bathrobe, pajamas, sports and dress shirts, raincoat, sweater, cap, slacks, travel jacket, luggage and towel. Most of the actual participating gear—such as Courtney's track uniform—was purchased by the Olympic Supplies Committee at cost.

Cardigan and shorts are part of Carin's leisure uniform for wearing about in Olympic Village.

Walk shorts of gray flannel and knit shirt, as worn here by Tom, is men's most casual outfit.

WOMEN'S OFFICIAL OLYMPIC UNIFORM
Carin Cone, America's 100-meter backstroke star from New Jersey, wears the women's parade uniform. Her other costumes include a travel suit with a tweed jacket and navy flannel skirt, robe, pajamas, Bermuda shorts, sweaters, blouses, scarf, shoes—all the clothes she'll need for traveling and for Australia's unpredictable early-summer climate. Her coat is made of weather-treated worsted jersey.

FOUR PHOTOS

RICHARD MEEK