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STOP unethical sports-kit sponsorship for TEAM South Africa – London 2012

STOP unethical sports-kit sponsorship for TEAM South Africa – London 2012

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This petition has been created by Brian S. and may not represent the views of the Avaaz community.
Brian S.
started this petition to
The Hon. Jacques Rogge, President, International Olympic Committee, Mr. Gideon Sam, President, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, The Hon. Fikile Mblalula, MP, Minister of Sports and Recreation (SA), The Hon. Richard Mdakane, MP, Chair, Parliamentary Committee on Sports & Recreation
BACKGROUND:

SA’s Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (SASCOC) held a high-profile public and media launch on Wednesday, 04 April, to present:

(1) CHUKURU – the new RHINO mascot for Team SA for London’s Olympics and Paralympics;
(2) NEW sports kit for Team SA, 2012 through 2016; and
(3) ERKE sportswear’s 4-year, 4-million US$ sponsorship of the national kit.

FACTS:

(A) A nationwide poll, with 6 options, chose the RHINO to represent South Africa;

(B) It’s clear South Africans voted for the rhino to symbolically represent, in a major global arena, the ‘bloody’ plight of this iconic species, that is now under intense threat from illegal poaching in order to satisfy illicit demand from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) users – more than 600 have been killed for their premium-priced horns since January 2011; and

(C) The Olympic Charter is based on several fundamental principles, the first of which requires member states, officials, athletes and related parties to strictly adhere to “social responsibility, and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles”.

AS A SIGNATORY HERETO, I CALL ON THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS PETITION TO:

(i) Require of SASCOC that it actions an immediate reversal of their licensing agreement on the basis that it is invalid, and therefore illegal, by way of a material breach of the Olympic Charter; and

(ii) Require of SASCOC that they render a full and unconditional, public apology to the people of South Africa who, collectively, chose to highlight their national effort to ‘Save the Rhino’, but yet where poor executive decision-making has failed dismally in a pursuit to maximize commercial, licensing revenues without any understanding or ‘due diligence’ of a serious ‘conflict of interest’.

IN THE MEANTIME –

I will actively boycott any and all products related to ERKE (www.erke.com) but yet will fully endorse the people of South Africa, who wish to highlight the tragedy of rhino-poaching by championing the ethos and symbolism of Chukuru.

Posted (Updated )