Britain’s Winter Olympians have been advised to wear “less overtly branded” Team GB clothing to help ensure their safety while travelling to Sochi.
The first British athletes departed for Russia yesterday ahead of the start of the Games a week tomorrow and the British Olympic Association have recommended they do not draw attention to themselves and adopt a “common-sense approach” by wearing a jacket or hooded-top that is branded subtly.
Security is the major concern of the Games organisers following two suicide bombings in Volgograd last month that killed 34 people. Russian security officials are also hunting what they believe to be three potential female suicide bombers, one of whom is reported to be in Sochi.
It is common BOA practice to advise athletes not to wear team gear outside the Olympic Park at any Games but extra caution is being suggested for the journey to Russia – most of the British team are flying to the Black Sea resort via Moscow. The BOA stress, though, there is no suggestion of any increased security threat to British athletes.
A BOA spokesperson said: “The safety and well-being of the Team GB delegation competing in Sochi remains our No 1 priority.”
