TEAM CANADA 2010 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC JERSEY
BACKGROUNDER

Hockey Canada unveiled the Team Canada 2010 hockey jersey in August 2009, after it was approved by both the Canadian Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee. This jersey will be worn at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver by the men’s, women’s and sledge teams representing Canada.

THE DESIGN
Nike, in collaboration with Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow, designed a jersey that tells an intricate story by incorporating imagery from across our country. This unique design features many aspects of Canada’s rich history through icons and cultural symbols. The dominant imagery depicted inside the Maple Leaf crest includes smaller Maple Leafs representing the gold medal count for our men’s, women’s and sledge teams, the thunderbird and eagle, two powerful First Nations symbols supporting and protecting the central Maple Leaf – and of course the heralded hockey player and stick.

The graphic design of the jersey has Salish symbols and patterns that represent all First Nations across Canada. The graphic design celebrates First Nations artwork and also incorporates Canadian icons: the Maple Leaf, fleur-de-lis, hockey player, moose and beaver.

Hockey Canada’s 2010 Olympic and Paralympic jersey also features the Vancouver 2010 and Canadian Olympic Committee marks.

THE ARTISTS
Debra Sparrow, a Musqueam artist and Stuart Iwasaki, design director of global promo services for Nike Inc., collaborated to create the graphic design of the jersey that incorporates imagery from across Canada in a meaningful way.

Debra Sparrow
Debra Sparrow is a Musqueam artist, well-known for combining textile and Salish designs in a contemporary way through geometric, hand spun blankets and hangings. Her work can be seen in various museums and institutions including the University of British Columbia, Vancouver International Airport, Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle.

Stuart Iwasaki
Stuart Iwasaki is the design director of global promo services for Nike Inc. Since 2000, Stuart has been developing Olympic and event graphic design as well as identity and uniform design for various international sporting teams including the Australian Olympic team, Japanese national team, the United States and Netherlands speed skating teams, Lance Armstrong cycling jerseys, the United States hockey team and Hockey Canada including the most recent re-design for the Team Canada 2010 hockey jersey.

JERSEY AVAILABILITY
Team Canada 2010 jerseys are available online and in over 2,000 retail outlets across Canada, including but not limited to SportChek locations, Nike stores, Hudson’s Bay Company stores, Olympic Stores in Vancouver, Whistler and the Vancouver International Airport, and online at www.vancouver2010.com. They will also be sold at the Olympic Superstore at the Bay Downtown Vancouver and hockey venue concession stands operated during the Games by VANOC’s merchandise concessionaire, XP Canada ULC. Proceeds from the jersey sales will go to support Salish youth sports.

For more information on the Team Canada 2010 hockey jersey, please visit niketraining.ca.