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The Fairtrade Foundation congratulates The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on their decision to serve Fairtrade bananas, tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, across 40 locations, as this will help to support farmers, workers and their communities in developing countries.

The decision was published last week in the Food Vision report, which sets the standards for catering at the event, during which 14 million meals will be served.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘By setting Fairtrade as the standard for many foods at the Games, the Committee will help bring the vision of a sustainable 2012 Olympics/ Paralympic alive. By asking the catering industry to source Fairtrade products, LOCOG have set new standards for the catering industry for not just this iconic event but future major events – quite a legacy.

‘We are now calling on LOCOG to extend this to other aspects of the games such as ensuring Fairtrade certified flowers for the winners and Fairtrade cotton uniforms for the events staff, or using Fairtrade cotton in the bedlinen and the merchandising, so making this the fairest Olympic games ever. Fairtrade works with producer organisations in 59 developing countries and Fairtrade certified products are sold in 22 countries so athletes and audiences alike from right across the world will be cheered to find Fairtrade at the London Games.’

Banana farmer Cornelius Lynch from the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) which was established in 1982 to promote the social and economic welfare of small-scale farmers has welcomed the news. ‘By choosing to source from Fairtrade which trades with farmers from developing countries on more equal terms, LOCOG are sending out a positive message about the changing the way we trade and making it a fairer playing field.’

The Fairtrade Foundation is a member of Sustain, an alliance of NGOs and not-for-profit organisations which been advocating that the 2012 Games food promotes health and sustainability, wins new business for sustainable producers, and creates an important food legacy. Kath Dalmeny of Sustain said: ‘We are absolutely delighted that the 2012 Olympic Games organisers have recognised the importance of Fairtrade certified products in their Food Vision, because it is important to help farmers to build a sustainable future.’

Rt Hon Gareth Thomas MP, the UK government’s Trade and Development Minister, says:  ‘One of the key principles of the Olympic movement is fairness and it is important that this is reflected both on and off the field. I am pleased that LOCOG has embraced this in opting for Fairtrade for refreshments during the London 2012 Games.

‘There will be many financial and cultural benefits to London staging the Olympic Games and it is a positive step that the organising committee recognises that helping farmers, producers and growers in developing countries in this way will share some of the rewards with those who need it most.’

Chair of the Fairtrade London Steering Group, Sophi Tranchell, welcomed this commitment to Fairtrade by LOCOG.  ‘Campaigners across London have worked hard to make it a Fairtrade City which we achieved in October 2008, proof that Londoners want a fair deal for producers and workers in developing countries. The 2012 Olympics/Paralympics will be a great opportunity to showcase this commitment to the rest of the world. In particular, the five host boroughs, which have all been very active in support of Fairtrade, will be keen to ensure that Fairtrade is as visible as possible in the lead up to, during and after the Games.  This visibility may persuade our visitors to do more on Fairtrade and what a legacy that would be!”’

 

1. In spring 2009, the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) convened a Food Advisory Group  which includes representatives from the farming, catering and food manufacturing industries, the three food sponsors of the Games (McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Cadbury), as well as the Chair of the London Food Board, journalist Rosie Boycott.  Sustain’s policy director Kath Dalmeny is also a member, and has chaired a working group including NGOs like the Fairtrade Foundation which has made recommendations to the Food Advisory Group.

2. The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7 million people - farmers, workers and their families - across 59 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.

3. Today over 4,500 retail and catering products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark including coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, mandarins, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes & snacks, honey, jams & preserves, chutney & sauces, olive oil, rice, quinoa, herbs &  spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beers, rum, confectionary, muesli, cereal bars, yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub, plus cotton products including clothing, homeware, cloth toys and cotton wool.