Source: The ReDress Consultancy-South Africa
The 2008 Beijing Olympics begin on 8 August and in 2010 South Africa will be hosting the Soccer World Cup. How many of us will give any thought to
the unseen thousands that produced the soccer balls, the branded clothing and
their team's clothing?
Sportswear and sports products is a lucrative business for
those at the top of the value-chain. One year after the last Olympics, this
market was estimated to be worth US$ 74 Billion. The industry is driven and
controlled by a few dozen global companies such as Nike, Adidas, Reebok,
Puma, Fila, ASICS, Mizuno, Lotto, Kappa and Umbro. Sporting bodies such as the
International Olympic Committee and FIFA make huge amounts of money through
licensing and branding contracts.
Even though the International Olympics Committee (IOC)
signed an agreement with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) "focusing on respect
for social justice", it appears the IOC is reluctant to take
responsibility for the manufacturing of their products conveniently placing the
onus on companies and governments to ensure that manufacturing of related products are not done in sweatshop conditions.
The soccer World Cup is a cash-cow for
companies like Adidas. The 2006 World Cup boosted its global sales of soccer
balls by 30%. This equated to US$2.33 Billion in sales for the second quarter
of the same year.
FIFA earned nearly 635 million from the 2002
World Cup. How much will it earn from the 2010 World Cup and how much of this profit will be made through the exploitation of labour both in Asia and in Africa? It is
reported that South Africa's apparel retail chain-store EDCON has the rights to
produce FIFA merchandise. A spokesperson for EDCON confirmed with me that the
FIFA range would be produced in South Africa, which is great for the local
apparel industry. I would like to know if manufacturers producing the FIFA
range for Edcon are registered companies or small unregistered CMTs that
operate throughout South Africa.
On it website FIFA says that following:
Due to its values , popularity, universal nature and
appeal, football (in all of its forms) can be a viable and practical instrument for achieving social and human development targets, tackling many of the
major problems faced by society today, and supporting the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. FIFA's approach to its humanitarian activities
has seen a critical evolution in recent years - from a 'charitable giving' approach to a meaningful 'socially responsible, involved, and committed' one.
