FRANCE: Britain may be hosting this year's Olympic Games, but the flags that fans will be waving are made in France

Record ID: 330911

  • Title: FRANCE: Britain may be hosting this year's Olympic Games, but the flags that fans will be waving are made in France
  • Date: 18th July 2012
  • Summary: AVELIN, FRANCE (JULY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF DOUBLET FACTORY DOUBLET FLAG FLYING IN THE SKY PRODUCTION AREA VARIOUS OF EMPLOYEES SEWING COMPUTER SCREEN WITH DETAILS OF UNION JACK UNION JACK BEING PRINTED INK DETAILS OF UNION JACK DOUBLET CEO LUC DOUBLET AND MARKETING DIRECTOR TALKING EMPLOYEE FOLDING UNION JACK (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUBLET CEO LUC DOUBLET SAYING: "When you get an Olympic contract it's something you are proud of, of course. Of course, we did it for years but each time we have won, I remember seeing this big Olympic flag in Atlanta moving in the stadium, I have a little tear of course, because we are involved in what we do. It's not only flags, it's more than flags." SCISSORS DETAIL OF SAUDI ARABIA FLAG EMPLOYEE WORKING ON SAUDI ARABIA FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOUBLET CEO LUC DOUBLET SAYING: "I think it's the Doublet touch because we are French of course, but we are also in seven different countries, in the US, Poland, Germany and Spain, Portugal and we have a very globalized eye about the games and how to do it, because we are very involved in sports and we do sports in different countries. We know the way people think about sports and the way they manage it, and we are very able to do it " ROLLS OF FABRICS (SOUNDBITE) (French) HEAD OF FLAG WORKSHOP JANINE MERLIN SAYING: "I have worked on a lot of (Olympic) games, I have been here for a long time and each time we have to work quickly, we have to do extra hours, and I like that, it's stimulating." VARIOUS OF FLAGS IN BOXES INTERIOR OF COMPANY BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4N1XA7Q33YBYPGBGK18YNCB1K
  • Story Text: In an ironic twist, the Union Jacks which will stir the hearts of British fans at the London Olympics this year, will actually have been made on the other side of the English Channel.
    In a 21st century manifestation of the entente cordiale, the Olympic committee awarded the contract to supply national flags to this year's games to French firm Doublet, based outside the northern city of Lille.
    Doublet is one of only two French companies to have been awarded contracts for the Games, with 91 percent of them concluded with British companies.
    The symbolism of the national flags rolling off the presses in his factory was not lost on Doublet CEO Luc Doublet.

    "When you get an Olympic contract it's something you are proud of, of course. Of course, we did it for years but each time we have won, I remember seeing this big Olympic flag in Atlanta moving in the stadium, I have a little tear of course, because we are involved in what we do. It's not only flags, it's more than flags," he said to Reuters TV.
    The company bought its German counterpart BOFA earlier this year, becoming the market leader for flags and banners on the European market with 300 employees in seven countries, and now boasts an annual turnover of 45 million euros a year.
    They have made flags since 1832 but according to Doublet, it won the 2012 contract thanks to its experience in sport.

    "I think it's the Doublet touch because we are French of course, but we are also in seven different countries, in the US, Poland, Germany and Spain, Portugal and we have a very globalized eye about the games and how to do it, because we are very involved in sports and we do sports in different countries. We know the way people think about sports and the way they manage it, and we are very able to do it," he said.
    With the plant churning out 12,000 flags in the last six months, the pace of work on the factory floor has greatly increased -- most workers say they have been working six days a week since March.
    Janine Merlin, 55, has been in the company for 40 years, cutting, sewing, and training her colleagues and she loves the flags and the pressure she feels each time Doublet wins such a contract.

    "I have worked on a lot of (Olympic) games, I have been here for a long time and each time we have to work quickly, we have to do extra hours, and I like that, it's stimulating," she said.
    And workers say that once the London Games are over, the next prize will be winning the contract to supply the 2016 games in Brazil.
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