YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ON THE SAME PLANET AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WRAPPING THEMSELVES IN THE OLYMPIC FLAG

Photo courtesy of War on Want

While companies like Nike, Puma and Adidas make millions from the London Olympics, their workers are paid on average 16p per hour, with some getting as little as 9p.


What's more, workers in all three companies have been beaten, verbally abused and some even sexually harassed by their managers.


Some workers had to put in 80 hours a week to earn enough to feed their children. One Nike supplier employee told the charity War on Want that she had to get up at 4 am to cook breakfast and get her child ready for school. It is compulsory to be at the factory gate at 7 am, although work doesn't start till 7.30. She then works 9 hours before she can take her bus home, a journey which takes her an hour.

Adidas is the official outfitter of the London 2012 Olympics, supplying the GB team's uniforms, which were designed by Stella McCartney, and the uniforms for the 70,000 volunteers (Big Society) who will help run the Games. It also sponsors many sports "stars", including David Beckham and Jessica Ennis. It is hoping to sell around £100,000,000 worth of Olympic themed sportswear.


Nike has apparently sponsored 25 national teams including the high profile ones like Germany, China and the USA.


These companies are making vast amounts from the Olympics while abusing the workers who actually produce the merchandise.


I wonder what the original Olympians would make of the foul and disgusting business practices that the Games have now attracted.
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Despite what some of the commentators here would like to think, everyone that I spoke to in Paris about the Games is delighted that the disruption, dirty, noise and unpleasantness that is the Olympics has gone to London and not to Paris.