New problems for Beijing

Some IOC official are maybe reflecting on their decision of assigning the Olympics to China. Of course, China is a huge future market for sport business, but problems and polemics are emerging almost every day. Human rights, Tibet, Taiwan, Darfur… The last one is the report published by the non-governmental organization “Play Fair” about working conditions in some Chinese factories producing licensed products for the Beijing 2008 organizing committee. This organization investigated on four textile manufacturers. Charges go from child labor exploitation to non respect of health regulations, and regulations on working hours, pay scale. Sports Illustrated quoted one of the organizing committee’s marketing directors announcing an investigation and speaking of a “huge gap between the report and what the businesses told us”. What I find more surprising are the arrogance and sense of impunity the Chinese organizing committee shows in these matters. So far, it has been more or less supported by the IOC. But maybe one of these days will the IOC feel forced to intervene?