The Olympic torchbearers were supposed to be 8,000 unsung heroes with heartening stories to ‘inspire a generation’.
But yesterday it emerged that some of the coveted places have been handed out by sponsors to their own staff.
Coca-Cola, Samsung and Adidas have distributed the positions to everyone from marketing executives to IT workers
The remaining 800 places were given to stakeholders, such as the International Olympic Committee, as well as to top sponsors to distribute internally.
These were then doled out to employees, most of whom appear to have been nominated for simply doing their job and several of whom have no connection to Britain.
London 2012 guidelines state that even internal candidates should be ’young people or have stories inspiring young people’ with ‘back stories of personal achievement’.
But instead of torchbearer places going to deserving customers or staff of the sponsors, in many instances they have been bestowed on top executives.
Last night, Baroness Dee Doocey, Olympics spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, said: ‘I think this is completely wrong and absolutely against the spirit of the Olympics. The sponsors are rewarding staff for just doing the job they are paid to do.
‘This was supposed to be “the people’s Games”, not the Games for people who have money and power.’
Lakshmi Mittal, 61, chief executive of ArcelorMittal, will run with the flame after his firm provided £19.2million towards the cost of building The Orbit, a giant steel sculpture in the Olympic Park. His son Aditya, the company’s financial officer, will also be a torchbearer,.
Comparing himself to an elite athlete, Mr Mittal [senior] said of his nomination: ‘When I think about parallels between myself and an Olympian, I believe that success in the world of business is underpinned by very similar principles of perseverance and hard work.’
Jack Denness, 77, had his torchbearer application rejected despite raising £100,000 by completing 12 155-mile runs through Death Valley, California. The grandfather, from Kent, said: ‘It makes a bit of a farce of the system, doesn’t it?’
Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly, said: ‘This is another example of the corrupting influence of the sponsors and how the Games have become more grace-and-favour than inclusive.’
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its who you know whot whot you now torys rule untill kicked out its just corrupting influences of our crooked goverment allowing it to happen
Power of love n love of power so different in all respects, this just gets more and more obscene and absurd does it not….. Fuck the Government and its draconian scum elitist bastard cabinet.
“London 2012: Surrey councils to spend £260,500 on Olympic Torch relay”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-18456335
I wonder how many disabled/children/old/ people will have lost their benefits/home helps to pay for this!!!.