BOSTON, Dec. 8, 2023 — adidas and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) unveiled today the iconic celebration jacket for the 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.
This year’s jacket is inspired by the spirit of global competition in a paramount year for the sport of running. Building on the iconic Boston Marathon colors of blue and gold, the jacket features a primarily blue colorway with red accents on the sleeves. These colors also represent the French flag in honor of the world’s journey to compete in Paris in 2024.
“The Boston Marathon is a pinnacle moment in the sports world. We wanted to honor that while nodding to what will undoubtedly be a pinnacle moment in not just running, but sport this summer, as thousands of athletes make their way to Paris,” said Jennifer Thomas, Vice President of Global Sports Marketing at adidas. “We’ve utilized softer shades of red and blue to celebrate the impressive accomplishments of our Boston Marathon runners and nod to the athletes that will be representing the best of us this summer.”
Notably, red and blue are also central to the United States and Norwegian flags – with the former being the host of the Boston Marathon and the latter being the home of the late Grete Waitz, an iconic adidas athlete who wore a similar colorway when she won silver at the historic 1984 women’s marathon in Los Angeles. Waitz’s life was marked by a tenacious pursuit of proving impossible is nothing, and that women not only belong in sport, but should be welcomed and celebrated. In addition to the nod to her native country’s flag, the jacket will also feature Waitz’s signature.
The Official Footwear and Apparel Supplier of the Boston Marathon since 1989, adidas is proud to leverage its coveted celebration jacket to honor Waitz, the diverse athletes who will be running the course and those competing in Paris next summer. This year, adidas will also provide unique volunteer jackets to 10,000 volunteers and the official Boston Marathon participant t-shirts to the 30,000 runners.
“As the road to the 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America begins and we embark on a new era, we enthusiastically unveil with our partners the coveted adidas Boston Marathon Celebration Jacket, representing both the hard work and the commitment required to make it to the start line in Hopkinton on Patriots’ Day,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “For more than three decades, the B.A.A. and adidas have partnered to create a collection that recognizes the accomplishments of every athlete, and the celebration jacket is at the forefront of that. We’re proud that this year’s collection is an inspiring nod to all marathoners – past and present and future, in Boston and beyond.”
The 2024 Boston Marathon Celebration Jacket will be available for online purchase from adidas for $120 beginning on December 15, with limited pre-sale taking place at specialty retail partners beforehand. Images of the celebration jackets can be found HERE. adidas’ 2024 Boston Marathon official performance apparel and footwear collection will be available for purchase by participants and fans at the Boston Marathon Expo ahead of Marathon Monday on April 15, online at adidas.com/us/boston_marathon and via select local retailers.
About adidas
adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 59,000 people across the globe and generated sales of € 22.5 billion in 2022.
About Boston Athletic Association
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.