The PlayFair 2008 campaign group has reacted with deep concern at media reports that the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee is planning to cancel contracts with companies highlighted in this week's report 'No medal for the Olympics on labour rights'.

"The workers in these factories have been subjected to serious exploitation - the Beijing Games Committee should insist that the companies respect the fundamental rights of these workers, and should not cut and run from a problem for which the Olympics movement and particular the IOC itself must take full responsibility. We call upon the Beijing Committee not to end the contracts and thus cause further harm to the workers, but to join efforts to get the IOC and the worldwide Olympics movement to ensure fair play for the people who make Olympics licensed products. Unilateral action will not work – it will only mean that workers lose their jobs, and there is no guarantee that the next lot of factories would respect workers’ rights either," ccording to PlayFair.

"The fact that the IOC has acknowledged, in a letter to us on Friday night, that there is a problem is positive, but they have given no response to our concrete proposals about how we could work together to ensure international labour standards are respected. The IOC should not stand by and let the Beijing Olympics Committee cut and run. We are eady and willing to work with the IOC to tackle these problems, and we hope they will take our offer up," said the PlayFair group.

During this Olympics we especially express our dismay at the International Olympic Committee's lack of commitment to ensuring that the Olympic ideals of respect, dignity and fair play are respected by the global sportswear industry.