One of the most symbolic moments for those who will take part in the first Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America has finally arrived. After years of planning and six months in production, the uniforms to be used by volunteers and employees, who proudly make up the Rio 2016 team, have just been launched.

“For the volunteers, the uniform is much more than trousers and a shirt, the uniform is a symbol. A symbol of recognition. A symbol of their collaboration so that this great event may take place. It is the material representation of pride to be part of this dream,” said Flávia Fontes, manager of the Rio 2016 Volunteer Programme.

The uniforms were revealed at Cidade do Samba, in Rio’s port area, the same place where in the coming days they will start to be distributed to Rio 2016 employees and volunteers, two million items arriving in Brazil in 48,665 boxes, brought from China in 58 containers.

This mountain of clothing will be distributed as follows to volunteers: three polo shirts, two pairs of trousers that may be turned into shorts via an adjustable hem, one belt, one jacket, one cap, one backpack and money belt, three pairs of socks, one pair of trainers, one raincoat and one water bottle and a clip for bottles with a 500ml capacity.

The uniforms were designed to combine versatility, comfort and to represent the pride of those who have organised an event the size and importance of the Games. For this reason the colours are of vital importance, as they represent the values of Rio 2016 and identify the roles of employees, outsourced employees and volunteers inside over 100 Olympic venues, both sporting and non-sporting.

The yellow, in tribute to the sun and representing the energy that involves the organisation and staging of Rio 2016, will stamp the uniforms of employees and volunteers responsible for operational areas, such as Communication and Press, Sport, Technology and Transport. The green, representing the nature of the host-country and a striking element in the decoration of sporting arenas, will identify the teams for event services, responsible for serving the public (EVS team). The red, as a hot colour and easy to identify, will be used by the Medical Services team. Finally, blue will be the colour of Games technical officials.

Made by Chinese factory 361º, the 86,300 uniforms contain details that make a difference: exclusive stamps for the linings of coats and pockets guarantee a unique profile for the workforce teams, internal tags on the shirt and jacket allow the owner of the uniform to write their name, and the fabric of the shirts and trousers facilitate breathing of the skin in warm weather and heat up on colder days.