Nike recently gave the running track at Los Angeles City College the glow-up of a lifetime. The sportswear brand transformed the sports ground into a rainbow flag to show support for LGBT+ athletes.
‘Together, Nike and Baker share a vision for a more inclusive culture through the power of sport, and are dedicated to providing inclusive spaces for LGBT+ athletes to practice the sports they love,’ the brand said in a statement.
The LA track is dedicated to Gilbert Baker, who passed away in 2017. Gilbert was the artist behind the multi-coloured flag now known as the most iconic a symbol of Pride.
Now in its eighth year, Nike’s ‘Be True’ campaign includes clothing and footwear designed using symbols and words that represent LGBT+ pride. For the 2019 collection, Nike collaborated with Gilbert’s estate to design a line of tees, sneakers and socks that pay homage to the talented activist and artist.
Inclusivity win aside, the track is easy on the eyes. The running lanes stay true to Gilbert’s eight-striped aesthetic, beginning with pink and culminating with purple.
There’s also a large pink semi-circle area on the soccer field that displays his signature and of course, the Nike swoosh. Look closely and you’ll notice the violet-toned long jump runway.
This isn’t the brand’s first sports ground makeover. Nike teamed up with French design agency Ill-Studio and fashion label Pigalle to repaint a tiny basketball court sandwiched two buildings in Paris.
Nike also redesigned a Chicago church, built in 1885, to create an epic stain-glass inspired basketball training facility.
We wouldn’t mind a rainbow running track or even a vibrant basketball court. Might motivate us to sneak a few more runs in this winter.
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