Whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea, the 2021 Olympics will take place in Japan this year starting from the end of July. And even though you’re not attending (if you’re in South Africa, you’re not attending as a spectator — our COVID spike isn’t nearly over), you can still show your support… and give Apple a little more money at the same time.

Watch-ing the Olympics

Apple’s releasing an Olympics-focused series of bands for the Apple Watch, called the Apple Watch International Collection. There are 22 bands in total and, amazingly, South Africa is one of the countries represented. But if you were paying attention to the header image, you already know that.

The bands are designed to work with both the 44mm and 40mm sizes of Apple Watch, while your chosen band’s packaging is designed to help locate a matching Stripes Watch face (which can also be shared with other Watch owners — cos they didn’t get their hands on a band). Currently they’re only available through Apple and will cost $49 (R700) each — though they’re not available on our local store as yet.

You don’t have to support South Africa, even if our country is one of the 22 available options. The International Collection, besides SA, includes: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the USA. That’s a decent list for us to be on, for a change.