For elite athletes, donning Olympic kit symbolizes years of dedication, yet much of this apparel remains unused. In a warehouse on England's south coast, pristine Team GB clothing for Paris 2024 and Milan Cortina 2026 sits untouched, including opening ceremony garments.

Commercial challenges complicate the resale of excess stock. A new partnership aims to repurpose hundreds of surplus Team GB items through a specialist platform, with proceeds benefiting the British Olympic Association's (BOA) charity, the Team GB Foundation. The initial launch will feature 700 items from Paris 2024.

The issue of surplus sportswear is widespread in elite sports. 5thread, a consultancy focused on sustainability, estimates that up to 100,000 items of sports kit end up in UK landfills each year. Joanna Czutkowna, director of 5thread, explains:

• Many items are ordered before the athletes are selected, generating excess stock.
• Contracts often discourage reuse due to market restrictions or innovations.

Performance requirements further complicate waste reduction; athletes need specific clothing for competition, making adjustments challenging. The total surplus remains difficult to quantify as kit can linger in warehouses or garages.

Uefa reports that up to 60% of professional team apparel is disposed of at season's end, although this figure lacks independent verification.

Adam Stevens, co-founder of Kitround, highlights the financial significance of sponsorships while advocating for reuse solutions.

Athletes like Lily Young, who aspires to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, face pressure to optimize performance, leading to surplus. Young mentions:

This is basically brand new, but it's not quite good enough to maybe win.

Athletes often pass down usable items to younger teammates, but equipment unsuitable for elite competitions can still support beginners. Organizations like Sail GP and the Royal Yachting Association are utilizing platforms to sell second-hand elite gear at lower costs, addressing affordability in sports.

Czutkowna stresses the need for organizations to evaluate the longevity and utility of their products, advocating for a mindset of resourcefulness:

It's kind of a waste not, want not.