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Olympic builders forced to sign gagging orders
Grant Prior Contract Journal
DATELINE: 5/2/09
Contractors building Olympic venues are being forced to sign gagging orders banning them from talking about construction of the 2012 venues. BBC London claimed Olympic bosses are making firms sign contracts which prevent them talking publicly about all details of the work for six years.Contractors suspected of leaking information about the project can have their premises searched and emails checked by the Olympic Delivery Authority. The ODA said the contracts were a standard confidentiality agreement.
But BBC London's Olympics Correspondent Adrian Warner said: "The companies I have talked to are shocked they have to sign a document which effectively allows 2012 to walk into their premises and start searching them.
”BBC London claims to have seen the gagging orders which have been in place for at least six months. Firms sign away the right to talk to any third party, without the ODA's permission, about technical plans, the cost of venues, a project's progress, environmental issues, health and safety measures and any discussions with ministers. The contract says companies and their subcontractors must not "do anything… which would have an adverse effect on, or embarrass any Games body or any supporter of the Games or official sponsor."
The most controversial clause adds: "For the purpose of investigating any breach or threatened or possible breach, the company will allow the ODA direct access upon demand to any of its premises or information which may… contain confidential information or any communications with any third parties in respect of confidential information."
An ODA spokesman said: "As with any company or public body, ODA contractors are required to sign a confidentiality agreement covering confidential information, including security and commercial information critical to the success of the project. This is standard practice.”
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/01/26/64188/olympic-builders-forced-to-sign-gagging-orders.html
Last modified: Thursday, March 5, 2009
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Previous stories
Free Speech & Censorship
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