You get a slot for kitting-out day. I’ve done a few of these now and they are wild.
Basically, you turn up at the NEC in Birmingham and are directed into a cavernous hall which has been converted into an enormous Adidas showroom with rails and rails of newly-designed gear.
And everything is free. I know…
Once you’ve checked in, lounged in the welcome area, then had a briefing on how special it is to be a Team GB athlete, you are assigned a personal shopper. Again, I know…
They kinda just hang around taking notes on an iPad as you try on every single item.
I’m talking village kit, competition kit, suit for official pictures, opening ceremony outfit, closing ceremony outfit, and the shoes to go with all of those.
Post-fashion show, we do pictures and media while our new pal oversees having everything loaded into three massive Union Flag emblazoned bags.
Judging by the scales at the airport when I flew home, it’s around 30kg of shiny new gear.
And beside the clothes, there’s loads of other bits and pieces too. Flip flops, sunnies, umbrella, sweatbands, bucket hats, notebooks, and don’t forget the rubber duck. Genuinely.
Oh, and for Tokyo, a cherry blossom Blue Peter badge. Childhood dream come true, right there.