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Play Fair at the Olympics
The Olympic movement has been strangely silent about sweatshop abuse, despite its close dependence upon the sporting goods industry for uniforms and equipment, the showcase the Games provide for the display of corporate logos, and the revenue it gains in sponsorships.
The Olympic charter emphasizes respect for human ethical principles. As the custodian of the Olympic logo in Canada, the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee can and must enforce changes. It must build into sportswear licenses and sponsorship contracts commitments to respect internationally recognized labour standards. The entire Olympic movement, including the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, must use its influence to ensure that workers in the sportswear industry are employed under fair, dignified and safe conditions.
Just as you will not see the Olympic movement signing a sponsorship deal with tobacco firms, similarly no deals should be signed with companies which ignore and abuse the rights of workers. It's time for the Olympic movement to support fair play for sportswear workers.
Read about how sportswear companies responded to the Play Fair Alliance's Programme of work for the Sportswear Industry.
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