The Fairtrade Foundation has dubbed the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games the fairest games ever with fairtrade bananas, tea, coffee and sugar available at all Olympic venues.
The Foundation says an estimated 10 million Fairtrade bananas from the Windward Islands and South America will be eaten, 7.5 million cups of Fairtrade tea served, 14 million cups of coffee carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark drunk, and 10 million Fairtrade certified sachets of sugar grown by farmers in Belize consumed.
This equates to an estimated Fairtrade premium of £100,000 that will be generated over the six week period of the Games for communities in developing countries to invest in social, environmental and economic developmental projects, such as sports fields, schools, clean water drinking holes and medical clinics.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘Fairtrade is all about creating a level playing field for smallholders and workers in global trade – so the London 2012 Olympics is the perfect opportunity to help farmers to build a sustainable future. By asking the catering industry to source Fairtrade certified products, LOCOG have set new standards for the catering industry for not just this iconic event but future major events – quite a legacy.’
Sophi Tranchell, Chair of the Fairtrade London Steering Committee said: ‘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. The 2012 Olympics/Paralympics will be a great opportunity to showcase this commitment to the rest of the world. This visibility may persuade our visitors to do more on Fairtrade and what a legacy that would be!”’
