All dressed up for the Olympics

Their logo looks like a rip-off of the Nike swoosh, but Erke's squiggle will share some space with the protea on the chests of Team SA athletes at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games later this year.

Erke, a leading Chinese sportswear brand, has signed a $4-million (R30-million) five-year sponsorship deal with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy said at the kit's launch in Johannesburg last night that it had approached Erke after being turned down by local brands.

The kit was paraded by Olympic hopefuls including Oscar Pistorius, Khotso Mokoena, Natalie du Toit, Cameron van der Burgh, Chad Ho and Kathryn Meaklim.

South Africa's official mascot, voted for by the public, will be Chukuru, a rhinoceros.

Sascoc president Gideon Sam said there was still time for the kit to be fine-tuned to fit the needs and requirements of the athletes.

In past Games, there were cases of athletes searching through a bin trying to find a kit to wear a day before the event kicked off.