Adidas releases special edition to honour 1976 Olympics

Adidas has released a limited edition shoe to commemorate 40 years since Montreal's 1976 Olympics.  

The sneaker is called Hochelaga, after the city's east-end neighbourhood.

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Harry Drakopoulos, the owner of Montreal footwear store Off the Hook, said the $130 shoes are expensive, but within reason for a special edition.

He added that it's possible Adidas is holding out until the summer for the release of another commemorative sneaker. 

"I feel Adidas could have gone more in depth because it's the anniversary," Drakopoulos said.

He said his store received orders from around the world.

The shoe is based off a similar sneaker created by Adidas named "Montreal," which was part of the official uniforms for the employees working on site at the 1976 Olympics.

Adidas layoff controversy

Adidas recently cut jobs from a distribution centre in the Montreal area.

Last month the company laid off 60 people. 

A spokesperson for the union Métallos, Claire-Andrée Cauchy, thinks the Hochelaga shoe is a way for the company to save face and criticizes their moving distribution elsewhere. 

"I think companies like Adidas should think about their decision to outsource jobs," Cauchy said. 

"They have to consider more transportation from China, Asia, or even Ontario's distribution centre. More transportation means more pollution and more cost."