The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are not only an elite sporting spectacle, but also a catwalk of style, and the opening ceremony held this Wednesday made that clear. This year, the Spanish Paralympic team stood out for bringing art to sport, combining the creativity and history of two iconic artists: the legendary Pablo Picasso and current star Okuda San Miguel. With this, the Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) maintains the tradition of incorporating works by great Spanish painters on uniforms, as it did with Joan Miró in Rio 2016 and Manolo Valdés in Tokyo 2020.
[Record coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games]
In the year of the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death, Spain has decided to pay tribute to the master of cubism with one of the most iconic shirts of the Paralympic Games. The Picasso Foundation, the entity that manages the painter’s legacy, has donated to the Spanish Paralympic Committee the use of the only work that Picasso dedicated to sport, specifically football. It is a lithograph made in 1961 that uses five colors: green, blue, yellow, red and black.
The garment features elements reminiscent of Picasso’s work, with bold geometric shapes and a vibrant color palette that captures the essence of his style. This T-shirt not only celebrates Spain’s rich cultural heritage, but also symbolizes the creativity and ability of Paralympic athletes to transform sport into art.
OKUDA’S MODERN TOUCH
Meanwhile, the Spanish team’s alternate jersey bears the signature of contemporary artist Okuda San Miguel, known for his vibrant artwork that combines geometric shapes and vivid colors. The shirt designed by Okuda, dubbed ‘Kaos Star’, features an explosion of colors and shapes that represent diversity and inclusion, core values of the Paralympic movement. This T-shirt has quickly become a symbol of modernity and innovation and has been made possible thanks to the collaboration between Coloring the World Foundation, the entity from which Okuda San Miguel works, and the aforementioned Spanish Paralympic Committee.
These T-shirts are not just sportswear; they are statements of identity and pride. They reflect the way in which Spain is intertwining its artistic heritage with the spirit of the Paralympic Games, showing the world that sporting excellence and artistic creativity can walk hand in hand. Every time Spanish athletes go out to compete in Paris 2024, they will be carrying with them a piece of Spanish history and art, demonstrating that sport is also a canvas on which the future can be painted. They are works of art in motion, representing the past and present of Spanish culture.
