Textile worker’s rights group MEXICAN Textile Workers Union wants to join the Olympic Games as a full-time, full-year observer, the group said on Monday.
The union said it would not be able to participate as a “part-time observer” as it was part of a larger delegation representing the majority of workers in the garment industry.
The International Textile Federation (ITF), which represents more than 70,000 textile workers, has called for a boycott of the Games as part of its demands for a “fair and equal” trade deal.
“The ITF, together with other trade unions and organisations including the International Labour Organisation, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will support the Olympic Movement and the bid to host the games,” ITF general secretary, Luis Jaua, said in a statement.
“It is a huge shame that our union and other trade unionists, who are already under immense pressure, will have to be excluded from the Games.”MEXICAN TIMES/Getty Images 1 of 8 Rio 2016: Rio de Janeiro Olympics logo, Rio de Janiero beach and the Olympic flame, Olympic torch, Olympic gold medal and other Olympic symbols.
Source: Associated Press/AP 2 of 8 The Rio 2016 Olympic Stadium is seen during the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics in Rio de Decima, Brazil.
Source of: AP/AP 3 of 8 A woman uses a piece of cloth to dry herself on the beach during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
Source, Getty Images/iStockphoto 4 of 8 In this handout picture provided by the International Textiles Federation (ITS), a man holds up a garment as he shows it to other workers during a visit to the International Exhibition Centre in São Paulo, Brazil, July 23, 2016.
Source/AP/ITS 5 of 8 Olympic torch bearer James ‘JJ’ Brown of Australia, left, of the USA, and South Africa’s Michael Meche of Botswana pose for a photograph during the closing ceremony of Rio 2016, at the Olympic Park in Rio.
Source / AP 6 of 8 Athletes of the world, including U.S. soccer player Abby Wambach of the United States, swim in the opening of the swimming pool during the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 5, 2016, Brazil time.
Source AFP/GettyImages 7 of 8 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) and IOC president Thomas Bach (L) pose for photos before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, January 6, 2019.
Source REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin/Pool 8 of 8 This undated file photo provided by AP shows former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key attending a news conference with his daughter Louise during a news briefing in Auckland, New Zealand, July 14, 2018.
Key and his wife Louise are the first couple to visit the Games in four years.
The Key family has been staying at the exclusive Marina Bay Sands resort for the past four months, with Key staying at his own villa.
Key’s daughter Louise has previously stated she will not be attending the Games and is currently studying at a university.
Key and his family have a total of 14 children.