Maine companies will be on display at Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Two Maine companies will have their products on display at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lewiston-based Rancourt & Co., along with Rogue Industries of Standish, have made elements that will be worn by Team USA on July 26, News Center Maine reported.

Rancourt & Co. are making suede shoes that will be worn as part of the official uniform at the opening ceremony, along with leather belt embellishments made by Rogue Industries.

This is the fourth Olympics that Rancourt & Co. has been commissioned by Ralph Lauren. The first commission was for a red, white and blue boat shoe for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the second a canvas sneaker for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and a snow boot for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Rogue Industries, a small business that employs nine people, is handcrafting the leather tabs that secure the belt buckles to bold, red, white and blue belts that will make up the official uniform.

Four Mainers attempted to make the USA Olympic Team this year. Long distance runner Rachel Smith, 800-meter runner Victoria Bossong, 5,000-meter runner Hannah Steelman and 800-meter runner Isaiah Harris all fell short of the cutoff to join the Olympic track and field team.