The Olympic Uniform Controversy Is the US’ Flag-Waving Performance

According to reports, several senators and members of the House of Representatives from the U.S. political arena have initiated a non-partisan attack on China-made U.S. Olympic uniforms just before the imminent opening of the London Olympics. They are clamoring that the [clothes] “made in China” be heaped together to burn, and newly made clothes, which can be T-shirts if necessary, must be tagged “made in the U.S.A.”

Certain U.S. media organizations have fueled the flames, claiming that China-made Olympic uniforms tell the world, “look, America is still highly controlled by China,” suggesting that “even before the opening of the Olympics, the Chinese have already snatched the gold medals away from the U.S. by manufacturing the uniforms of the U.S. team for the opening ceremony.”

The Olympic uniform incident is much like a heated “internet argument” that is instigated by politicians, catcalled by the media and witnessed by a few American citizens, showing the world insights into America's vivacious chauvinism.

Those politicians vying for the boycott of China-made goods have deep-rooted personal agendas. Some of the senators and representatives might lose their seats in the coming presidential election. Thus, they are using the Olympic uniform topic as a springboard for showcasing their “American hearts” and “patriotism.” They use evocative speeches, even at the cost of far-fetched language, to deliver subtle hints and sugary language to voters, so as to reap favorable outcomes in future elections. The media, in the interests of “creating a story” and winning the public’s attention, is also fueling the mess.

U.S. President Barack Obama has, after all, a legal background, said a White House representative. Perhaps it’s important to consider U.S. manufactured uniforms in the future, but the U.S. Olympic committee is a privately funded organization, so what the athletes wear and who creates the uniforms “cannot be decided by the government.” The Republican candidate Mitt Romney is also clear-headed enough to avoid getting entangled in the Olympic clothing controversy. He said that the athletes are the most important component of the games, so we should watch their performance and see whether they can seize medals for America, with other things being irrelevant.

The U.S. Olympic uniform incident is just another “Olympic highlight” story, so there is little need for indignation and much less room for looking at it through the lens of China-U.S. relations and an invalidation of China’s rise. This is just another chauvinistic performance by America. The “made in China” uniforms will definitely not get destroyed and will brightly grace the floors of the London Olympics’ opening ceremony. As long as the U.S. Olympic committee doesn’t get “nationalized,” the future U.S. Olympic teams’ clothes will not be entirely “made in the U.S.A.”

China is simply a manufacturer that is still in the processor position. Should U.S. Olympic uniforms say “designed in China” or “created in China” one day, then we can truly be proud. The Chinese economy’s transition from “made in China” to “designed in China” is a long and windy road.