UNITED KINGDOM: Cleaners at the London 2012 Olympics say their cramped campsite is not ideal but is acceptable, as the location faces scrutiny following an investigative article by a British newspaper

Record ID: 330916

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Cleaners at the London 2012 Olympics say their cramped campsite is not ideal but is acceptable, as the location faces scrutiny following an investigative article by a British newspaper
  • Date: 19th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) CANAL NEAR OLYMPIC PARK IN EAST LONDON / CONTAINERS HOUSING CLEANING CONTRACTORS ACROSS CANAL CONTAINERS/GRASS THE ORBIT TOWER IN THE OLYMPIC PARK / CONTAINERS HOUSING CLEANERS AUSTRALIAN FLAG IN CAMPSITE FRENCH FLAG AT CAMPSITE VARIOUS OF CLEANING CONTRACTORS SITTING OUTSIDE THEIR CONTAINER UNIT MAN WEARING TOWEL WALKING PAST WOMAN IN CAMP HUNGARIAN FLAG FLYING MAN DRINKING MONUMENT NEAR CAMPSITE / CAMPSITE CLEANERS WALKING CLEANERS STANDING AT MAIN ENTRANCE TO CAMPSITE MEN LEAVING CAMPSITE / SIGN READING: "CAMP CLEANEVENT" MORE OF CLEANERS OUTSIDE CAMP (SOUNDBITE) (English) CLEANING CONTRACTOR WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, SAYING: (NOTE - SHOT BELOW HEAD LEVEL, TO PROTECT IDENTITY) "I think we can work more in the camps so maybe it will be cleaner and nicer, but there are a lot of people who work in the Olympic Games so we come here to work at the Olympics not in the camp, it's not an interesting job cleaning other people's disgusting things so it's bad because nobody want to live here and working, because we are human beings and everybody can flush the toilet, it isn't a big thing I think." OFFICIALS AT CAMPSITE SURVEYING MEDIA PRESENCE
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4EK0QQH51OQO3MK2V93G3XCL9
  • Story Text: When the Olympic Games begin in London next week, it won't just be the best athletes from around the world who will have descended upon the British capital.
    A small army of cleaners, nearly all students, have flown in from equally far-flung countries to play their part in the Games and earn some money at the same time.
    Many are from Hungary and Spain, with others from across Europe and beyond. Flags from France, New Zealand, and the United States flutter above the cabins.
    But while athletes and officials stay in a brand new Olympic Village, these cleaners will live in "Camp Cleanevent", a compound on the site of a former scrap metal merchant with about 100 temporary cabins, each sleeping 10 people in bunk beds.
    The compound made the news in Britain this week when the Daily Mail newspaper said some of the arrivals had described it as a prison camp or a slum, with one shower for every 75 people.
    The camp's corrugated iron gates and barbed wire does seem a world away from the gleaming Olympic stadium and the 22 million pound (34 million US dollar) Orbit Tower.
    Cleaners who spoke to Reuters said around 10 people share every container with poor sanitation consistently flagged as a major issue. Many said they were just happy to be close to the Olympic Park and having a role in the Games.
    The cleaners get over 8 pounds (12.40 US dollars) an hour, well above Britain's national minimum wage of 6.19 pounds for adults or 4.98 pounds for those aged 18 to 20, along with three meals a day, and free transport to venues.
    The rent, however, is 18 pounds a day, or about 550 pounds a month, roughly the cost of renting a one-room apartment. When it gave permission for the compound, local authority Newham Council acknowledged there had been concern at the quality of the accommodation, but said it met all relevant standards.
    One cleaner, who didn't want to be identified, said more staff had been employed to clean up at the site since the story of the conditions at the campsite was published.
    But she said it was frustrating to work at the camp rather than at the Games themselves as hoped.

    "I think we can work more in the camps so maybe it will be cleaner and nicer, but there are a lot of people who work in the Olympic Games so we come here to work at the Olympics not in the camp, it's not an interesting job cleaning other people's disgusting things so it's bad because nobody want to live here and working, because we are human beings and everybody can flush the toilet, it isn't a big thing I think," she said.
    An official at the company in charge of running the campsite said the company was happy with the conditions at the camp but refused Reuters access to film inside the premises.
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