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Our bags have a Nike logo but the zippers are Adidas': Sports brand is furious after Egyptian Olympic hopeful reveals kit is Chinese knockoff 
After one of Egypt's Olympic swimmers admitted that the team was given knockoff Nike gear from China to compete in, the sports brand has issued a severe warning.
Yomna Khallaf, competing for Egypt in synchronized swimming, tweeted that her Olympic bag had a giant Nike logo... and that the zippers were marked Adidas.
Nike sent a letter of warning to the Egyptian Olympic Committee after Ms Khallaf added that the initial attitude of the officials in Cairo was: 'take this or have nothing at all.'
Contacted by the media, the Egyptian Olympic Committee confessed that its uniform supplier had been handing them knockoff goods. General Mahmoud Ahmed Ali, the president of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, confirmed to the Associated Press: 'We signed with a Chinese distributor in light of Egypt's economic situation.'
He called the fake clothes and footwear 'sufficient' for the Egyptians competing in the games, and suggested that if Nike felt troubled by the violation of its copyright, the company should pursue the supplier in China, not his committee.
In the company's letter to the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Nike warned that it 'consistently acts to protect its brand and actively engages with law enforcement agencies and Customs authorities to stop counterfeit product reaching consumers and athletes.'
The general accepted no responsibility for the counterfeit goods, telling Ahram Online: 'You can never tell the difference between the original and the fake ones.
He added: 'Its like if somebody created false coins and you happened to possess them. Is it your fault then?'
According to the BBC, the Committee and Nike are now 'in discussions' over the matter, however it is unclear whether Nike will take legal action.
Ms Khallaf explained via Twitter that the frustrated athletes spent nearly $3,140 to replace the fake gear with genuine articles before departing for London earlier this week.
She wrote: 'Its so frustrating that we had to pay extra 2000 pounds to have other proper stuff to wear so that we can look okay not even good.'
Since this tweet, however, the New York Times has reported that new gear has been promised to the Olympians - although it is unclear who will be purchasing the outfits.
The New York Times wrote: 'Authentic gear is being purchased for the delegation before the opening ceremony,' after Ms Khallaf tweeted this morning: 'They are ordering new clothes now from Nike UK !!'
Read more: ¿Our bags have a Nike logo but the zippers are Adidas': Sports brand is furious after Egyptian Olympic hopeful reveals kit is Chinese knockoff | Mail Online
After one of Egypt's Olympic swimmers admitted that the team was given knockoff Nike gear from China to compete in, the sports brand has issued a severe warning.
Yomna Khallaf, competing for Egypt in synchronized swimming, tweeted that her Olympic bag had a giant Nike logo... and that the zippers were marked Adidas.
Nike sent a letter of warning to the Egyptian Olympic Committee after Ms Khallaf added that the initial attitude of the officials in Cairo was: 'take this or have nothing at all.'
Contacted by the media, the Egyptian Olympic Committee confessed that its uniform supplier had been handing them knockoff goods. General Mahmoud Ahmed Ali, the president of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, confirmed to the Associated Press: 'We signed with a Chinese distributor in light of Egypt's economic situation.'
He called the fake clothes and footwear 'sufficient' for the Egyptians competing in the games, and suggested that if Nike felt troubled by the violation of its copyright, the company should pursue the supplier in China, not his committee.
In the company's letter to the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Nike warned that it 'consistently acts to protect its brand and actively engages with law enforcement agencies and Customs authorities to stop counterfeit product reaching consumers and athletes.'
The general accepted no responsibility for the counterfeit goods, telling Ahram Online: 'You can never tell the difference between the original and the fake ones.
He added: 'Its like if somebody created false coins and you happened to possess them. Is it your fault then?'
According to the BBC, the Committee and Nike are now 'in discussions' over the matter, however it is unclear whether Nike will take legal action.
Ms Khallaf explained via Twitter that the frustrated athletes spent nearly $3,140 to replace the fake gear with genuine articles before departing for London earlier this week.
She wrote: 'Its so frustrating that we had to pay extra 2000 pounds to have other proper stuff to wear so that we can look okay not even good.'
Since this tweet, however, the New York Times has reported that new gear has been promised to the Olympians - although it is unclear who will be purchasing the outfits.
The New York Times wrote: 'Authentic gear is being purchased for the delegation before the opening ceremony,' after Ms Khallaf tweeted this morning: 'They are ordering new clothes now from Nike UK !!'
Read more: ¿Our bags have a Nike logo but the zippers are Adidas': Sports brand is furious after Egyptian Olympic hopeful reveals kit is Chinese knockoff | Mail Online
