According to reports in 2002, the decision to outsource the torchbearer uniforms to Burma caused an uproar among human rights advocates and trade groups. It prompted the head of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions to write a letter to the International Olympic Committee, stating that "No responsible organization or body should make use of products originating in Burma."

The American Anti-Slavery Group and the Free Burma Coalition launched a campaign to protest the uniforms and called on the IOC to apologize and “promise to never support -- indirectly or directly -- the Burmese regime."

Torchbearers, too, were shocked to see the “Made in Burma (Myanmar)” label on their tracksuits. "When I looked at the label for the uniform, I went nuts,” said 2002 torchbearer Susan Bonfield in an interview with the Guardian. “When you are sending work representing the U.S. to a military dictatorship, I have an issue with that."

More than 10,000 runners wore the uniforms, which are pictured on Daily Kos, while carrying the Olympic torch to the Winter Games. HuffPost has confirmed the authenticity of the photo of the uniforms.

Perhaps most embarrassing, after receiving emailed protests from more than 1,000 activists, the media relations department at the Salt Lake Organizing Committee confused Burma and Myanmar as two separate countries.

"The torch relay clothes were NOT made in Burma. They were manufactured in Myanmar," the organizing committee responded. "In fact they were made in the exact same factory that produces clothes for GAP, North Face and other major clothing labels."

Both Gap and North Face denied at the time that they purchase products manufactured in Burma.

After activists correctly identified Burma and Myanmar as the same country, the committee apologized for what it referred to as “misinformation” and confirmed that both the pants and top of the uniform were produced at a textile plant in Burma/Myanmar.

The Romney campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.

Wasn't the Myanmar/Burma name confusion a subplot on Seinfeld back in the 90's?

Well, that seals it. I was going to vote for him because Obama has been such a dismal failure and done nothing but line the pockets of his big donor friends and special interest groups. But making a decision to have uniforms made in Burma to save money from an Olympics that was hemorrhaging moneny and about to go bankrupt. That's beyond the pale. FAIL.

Useful Idiot Tracker Wrote:
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> Well, that seals it. I was going to vote for him
> because Obama has been such a dismal failure and
> done nothing but line the pockets of his big donor
> friends and special interest groups. But making a
> decision to have uniforms made in Burma to save
> money from an Olympics that was hemorrhaging
> moneny and about to go bankrupt. That's beyond
> the pale. FAIL.


LOL. :)

Give in and let the free shit force free you. Really, it's liberating. No personal responsibilities. No need to work. Just sit back and enjoy the benefits of the efforts of others.

There is something fundamentally wrong with people who did not watch Seinfeld in the 90's.

FUNdamental Wrote:
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> There is something fundamentally wrong with people
> who did not watch Seinfeld in the 90's.


It was good in 90's but didn't age well.