NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 2, 2009-- Polo Ralph Lauren announced today that it will continue its relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) as an Official Outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams for the 2010 and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a continuation of the Company’s involvement in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, Polo Ralph Lauren will be designing the official Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony Parade Outfits for the U.S. Teams for both the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. In addition Polo Ralph Lauren has created a unique collection of village wear apparel and accessories that will be provided to the athletes on these teams.

“The Olympic Games are the greatest sporting event in the world and we are incredibly honored to play a part and celebrate the achievements of American athletes,” said David Lauren, Senior Vice President of Advertising, Marketing and Corporate Communications.

For the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Polo Ralph Lauren has designed and created a collection of authentic sporting apparel which embodies the spirit of American athleticism and sportsmanship. Celebrating the rich history of the Olympic Games with a nod to the Lake Placid Games of 1932, the clothing will showcase a classic Americana and patriotic palette of red, white and blue.

“We are thrilled that Polo Ralph Lauren will be returning to outfit Team USA at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver and London,” said USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird. “Polo Ralph Lauren is an iconic American company and we greatly appreciate the elevated style and classic look that will be donned by U.S. athletes at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and throughout the Games. It is a look that we feel all Americans will be proud to wear as they support Team USA in 2010 and 2012.”

Apparel from the entire Polo Ralph Lauren U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Parade Outfit collection will be available for sale, along with a full assortment of the athlete village wear pieces for men, women and children, in Polo Ralph Lauren retail stores, RalphLauren.com, USOlympicshop.com, U.S. Olympic Shops and exclusively at select department stores.

This announcement reinforces Polo Ralph Lauren’s leadership in major sporting initiatives. In addition to the Company’s involvement with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the Company serves as the Official Apparel Sponsor for both Wimbledon and the U.S. Tennis Open. Polo Ralph Lauren currently also sponsors an elite roster of professional golfers, as well as the Blackwatch Polo Team.

ABOUT POLO RALPH LAUREN

Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 40 years, Polo’s reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names, which include “Polo by Ralph Lauren”, “Ralph Lauren Purple Label”, “Ralph Lauren Collection”, “Black Label”, “Blue Label”, “Lauren by Ralph Lauren”, “Polo Jeans Co.”, “RRL”, “RLX”, “Rugby”, “Ralph Lauren Childrenswear”, “American Living”, “Chaps”, and "Club Monaco" among others, constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to http://investor.ralphlauren.com.

ABOUT THE U.S. Olympic Committee

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

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Source: Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren
Ryan Lally, 212-318-7116
Director of Corporate Communications
Ryan.Lally@poloralphlauren.com
or
USOC
Nicole Saunches, 719-866-2236
Manager, Marketing Communications
Nicole.Saunches@usoc.org