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Home / Sport / Olympics

Rio Olympics 2016: Who wore the best and worst outfits at opening ceremony?

Daily Mail
6 Aug, 2016 02:49 PM5 mins to read

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Team China arrives during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo / AP

Team China arrives during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo / AP

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It is the world's most watched fashion runway, where elite athletes are judged not on their sport, but on what they're sporting.

Fashion commentators across the globe watched eagerly on as athletes from more than 200 nations strutted around the Rio Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the games.

From scantily clad hunks liberally lubricated in baby oil, to preppy school uniforms, there was a medley of styles of all shapes and sizes on display inside Maracana Stadium.

We've take a look at some of the best and worst outfits of the ceremony.

BEST?

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Tonga

The most eye-popping outfit was really just a greased up hunk. Taekwondo fighter Pita Taukatofua sent social media into meltdown when he carried the Tonga flag with no shirt - completely covered in baby oil. With a body like that, who needs an outfit?

Aaand the gold medal for #OpeningCeremony entrances goes to...#Tonga. pic.twitter.com/mbOeGS2cMR

— Lindsey Warren (@Lindsey651) August 6, 2016

Great Britain

Great Britain was lead by tennis star Andy Murray in an understated but stylish uniform. Male athletes paired a slim-fitting jacket with a classic white shirt, adding a breezy modern touch with white shorts on the bottom. Female athletes wore white jackets, blue shirts and the very epitome of British fashion - a blue miniskirt.
Tennis ace Andy Murray shows off the double-breasted blazer worn by Great Britain's male athletes

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Andy Murray carries the flag of Britain during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP
Andy Murray carries the flag of Britain during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP

Canada

The traditional blazers with a laidback streetwear style has drawn widespread praise for Canada. Fashion critics praised the outfits use of the giant maple leaf to representing the country proudly without compromising style. Several social media commenters declared they won the fashion stakes.

Rosannagh Maclennan carries the flag of Canada during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP
Rosannagh Maclennan carries the flag of Canada during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP

South Korea

Looking like students from the preppiest school imaginable, South Korea have been met with an outpouring of praise for their outfits on social media. Commenters celebrated the matching white fedoras and smart blazers which looked like they came straight off the set of Glee.

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Members of team South Korea arrive during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP
Members of team South Korea arrive during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP

Indonesia

Indonesia were hailed as the most royal looking nation in the ceremony. Their traditional red and white outfits adorned with glittering gold hats were a huge hit on social media, where many claimed they took the cake of the best on the track.

i am indonesian and im so proud. Good Luck indonesia❤️ #OpeningCeremony #RioOlympics2016 Great Dressed pic.twitter.com/lPmsB8s1Hg

— Kamilia Husniah (@callmekamelia) August 6, 2016

Montenegro

To many, the Harry Potter-esque uniforms worn by Montenegro made up for an opening ceremony that was less than magical. The light blue outfits, complete with boater hat, were reminiscent of the uniforms worn by the Beauxbatons magic school in the Harry Potter films.

#RioOlympics2016 have started! Amazing ceremony, Brasiõ! Good luck, #Montenegro!
Photo: cdm.me pic.twitter.com/KlSe9760XO

— My Guide Montenegro (@MyGuideMne) August 6, 2016

WORST?

Germany

The German team wore a dour uniform notable only for its use of several different shades of grey. Despite temperatures approaching 30 degrees, they were well wrapped up in long parkas and thermal leggings. They did offer one tiny splash of colour - a dull maroon sweatshirt to ward off the slim chance any of them were still cold.

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Angelique Kerber of Germany, second left, arrives with the Germany team during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP
Angelique Kerber of Germany, second left, arrives with the Germany team during the opening ceremony. Photo / AP

China

China's ghastly uniforms were so bad they inspired their own food-themed hashtag: #ScrambledEggsWithTomatoSauce. The men provided the sauce in bright-red blazers teamed, for some bizarre reason, with a rainbow-coloured tie. Female athletes accounted for the eggs with their mustard-yellow jackets.

Team China arrives during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo / AP
Team China arrives during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Photo / AP

USA

You can see what they were going for: an abundance of red, white and blue. But fans were quick to point out the top of the uniform under blazer looks just like the Russian flag. Others slammed the nautical-prep styling and knitted sweaters. Looks like it's back to the drawing board for Tokyo 2020.

Michael Phelps leads Team USA during #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/yXgo6sysSG pic.twitter.com/1RJr3mQFFe

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 6, 2016

Australia

Taking to the track in white and green pinstripe blazers and yacht-chic white shorts, Australia's colourful uniforms have irked fashion police the world over. From reviews they looked like 'Medicare cards', to claims they looked 'offensively hideous,' Australia did not win everybody over.

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Members of team Australia waves to the audience in Rio. Photo / AP
Members of team Australia waves to the audience in Rio. Photo / AP

Italy

The birthplace of iconic fashion houses such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada chose to wear... baggy, dark blue, unisex track suits. Even more baffling was the fact that the normally stylish Italian uniforms were designed by none other than fashion legend Giorgio Armani.

Federica Pellegrini carries the flag of Italy. Photo / AP
Federica Pellegrini carries the flag of Italy. Photo / AP

Croatia

The verdict is out: checkerboard chic isn't in. Fans took to social media in droves to slam the designer of their red and white chequered uniforms. From claims they looked like quidditch team uniforms, to claims they were the worst dressed nation, people just weren't feeling these uniforms.

#Croatia takes there checkers WAY too seriously. #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/4VgEvXtpNi

— Madeline Potts (@therealmadeline) August 6, 2016

Ireland

The Irish have no one but the Americans to blame for their green and blue 'onesie' disaster. There was quite a stir when it was announced that American company New Balance would to design and make the kit. As it was unveiled on Friday it was easy to see why.

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.@PaddyB_Ireland leads #IRL onto the field tonight. #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/jDnrn9gFAN

— Frank Costa (@feistyfrank) August 6, 2016

Sweden

The shiny, neon yellow uniforms worn by Sweden were among the most attacked on social media. Social media was awash with commenters slamming their outfits, which were branded 'full-on fashion crimes' and a result of the 'H&M design team getting drunk with ABBA.'

Y'all. We missed out on this in Canada. 😐 #Sweden #openingceremony #rio2016 pic.twitter.com/A22xqIhqZ3

— Matthew B. (@MattBInYYC) August 6, 2016
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