County crests accompany Team Ireland's Olympic couture

Two hundred and six countries will be represented by athletes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, but amid the flags, fanfare and fireworks on Friday, you might spot a fashionable nod to 31 of the 32 counties of Ireland.

The designer of Team Ireland's official uniform, Laura Weber, has included an embroidered county crest in each of the white jackets which will be worn by athletes as they sail down the Seine.

The Dubliner, who is based in New York, redesigned the traditional county crests with a new symbolism and a refreshed colour palette.

She said: "All the athletes chose their county and the crest has been embroidered and placed on the jacket sleeve.

"Not only is this an amazing talking point for all the athletes, but it felt like a special tribute to all their families, their communities, their villages that have supported them just to get to the Olympics."

The county crests - Leitrim aside, in case you are wondering - are one of a number of unique elements in the opening ceremony jackets.

They include four shamrocks representing the four provinces of Ireland and a four leaf shamrock embellished brooch.

There is also a small opera pocket in the front of the jackets, referencing the suiting worn by Ireland's first Olympic athletes of 1924.

Handily, for what promises to be a spectacular occasion for photographs and video, this now fits a mobile phone.

Several of the world's top fashion designers are supporting their country’s Olympians by designing their team kit and ceremonial outfits, with Stella McCartney (Great Britain) and Giorgio Armani (Italy) two of the most prominent.

Mongolia's opening and closing ceremony outfits for Paris went viral after they were released, with many people saying how much they liked the