Team GB athlete's kit is made in abusive sweatshops.

[anotheoldgit]

/// While the German company – which unveiled its Stella McCartney-designed kit for British athletes last month – hopes to make £100m from its Olympic lines, ///

Not only has Germany's Addis, gained the contract for the British Olympic kit, but they are having it made in the sweat shops of Indonesia.

Why couldn't it have been made in this country?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independen...olympics-7644013.html

[Zacs-Master]

Don't addis make plastic kitchenware AOG. Ok ok so I'm being pedantic. I can never understand why the Olympic committee have allowed this to happen. They knew everything would be scrutinised. BTW, where's the evidence?

[Zacs-Master]

Oh ta.

[sandyRoe]

Hasn't Cameron just ended a visit to Indonesia? They must be considered our friends now.
Besides, where in the UK would you find workers who would be willing to sweat for a bowl of rice a day?

[doctordb]

I have two pairs of Adidas trainers that were made in Indonesia so I can't complain.

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// Don't addis make plastic kitchenware AOG. ///

Sorry I don't know how that happened because I copied and posted from the site to make sure I spelt it correct.

The Independent must have spotted the mistake and edited their report.

[emmie]

what makes you think they wouldn't have been made in sweat shops in UK, just as likely.

[ludwig]

// where in the UK would you find workers who would be willing to sweat for a bowl of rice a day //

I've got a couple locked in a shed at the bottom of my garden.

[anotheoldgit]

em10

/// what makes you think they wouldn't have been made in sweat shops in UK, just as likely. ///

At least the company would have to pay some form of taxes, even if the employees managed to get away scot free.

[joggerjayne]

I think it takes some of the gloss of the whole exercise.

If these kits are going to generate £100m profit, if would've been nice if the manufacturing procurement process could have insisted that they would make £90m profit, and that £10m could have gone to making sure that the people who make the kit receive a decent living wage.

But, as we all know ... well, those of us who've seen the ludicrously oppressive

London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006, and the

Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act 1995

... the number of people who are actually going to benefit from the Olympics are a very small, select number.

Prosperity for Britain? Absolute nonsense, unless you are an official sponsor.

Unity through sport? Not if you are making expensive "official kit" for a bowl of rice a day.

[tonyav]

jj, as i see it the Olympic's will only profit London anyway.

[joggerjayne]

Not even London, really.

Under the above legislation, a shop or trader who suggests in any way that their trading is connected with the Games will be prosecuted (to protect the deep pockets of the official sponsors).

So they have to trade normally, and hope that they have a busy couple of weeks.

It will be illegal for shops or businesses to use any of the following if it relates in any way to the Olympics ...

The numbers "2012"

The word "Twenty Twelve"

Phrases like "Supporting our team" or "Supporting our athletes"

References to "Gold"

Images of athletes

Images suggesting any connection with the Games

The words "Games" or "Olympics"

If you do, you'll find the official sponsors having you closed down.

[tonyav]

That's ridiculous jj.

[d9f1c7]

if you don't mind paying 5 times the price anything can be made in this country.

[anotheoldgit]

joggerjayne

Agree, the type of 'Free Trade' that we see attached to certain products in our supermarkets, maybe?

[daffy654]

jj, how on earth are they going to enforce/regulate some of those rules?

Especially these 3:

The numbers "2012"

The word "Twenty Twelve"

References to "Gold"

Using the numbers that represent the year we are currently in is a right everyone has.
Gold sellers/buyers might object to being told they are not allowed to use the last one in any advertising.

[joggerjayne]

Daffy ...

I did say it's forbidden ... "if it relates in any way to the Olympics ..."

So the gold seller could not use an expression like "Go For GOLD with Jones Jewellers"

[joggerjayne]

AOG ...

Brilliant! The Games would have been the perfect opportunity to promote worldwide "clothing fair trade".

But no. All they are promoting is worldwide "protect the sponsors' pockets".

[daffy654]

I get that they might want to restrict usage of the terms in relation to the games but I still can't see it being enforceable in a court unless it is blatantly obvious.
It is feasible that a gold seller might call their company "Going For gold" even without any connection to the Olympics.

[joggerjayne]

They might, Daffy.

And they might win a court case.

Their opponents would be Adidas, and the Olympic Organising Committee, with their combined resources of several £100m's. The brave shopkeeper might fight them, and win, despite facing ruin and bankruptcy if he lost.

Or, faced with such overwhelming financial opposition, he might cave in.

I hope there are plenty of shopkeepers who stand up for their principles, and risk everything.

I just hope they win!!

ps. If the Olympic Organising Committee see this thread, my use of the the expression "I just hope they win" was not connected in any way to the athletes competing for Team GB.

=0)