By Duncan Mackay

Former world mile record holder Steve Cram helped launch Atos' controversial sponsorship of Glasgow 2014 last yearOctober 1 - A vote on whether Atos should remain as a sponsor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is to be taken by Glasgow City Council.


The Scottish National Party (SNP), who form the opposition in Glasgow, have tabled the motion that will be debated later this month by the full 79-member Council, The Herald have reported.

The French multi-national IT company are a worldwide Olympic TOP sponsor and were also a partner of the Paralympics at London 2012.

But their involvement in those Games sparked widespread protests because the firm's subsidiary, Atos Healthcare, carries out work assessments on behalf of the British Government that it is claimed has caused thousands of people to lose their disability living allowances.

Campaigners pledged after London 2012 to get Glasgow 2014 to drop Atos as a partner. 

The motion is a potential embarrassment for the Labour-run Glasgow Council.

Last week Shadow and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne told the Labour Conference that the Government should cancel Atos' multi-million pound contract because he claimed it is "part of the problem, not the solution" to welfare reform. 

Critics of Atos, who include some of Britain's most prominent Paralympians, including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, claim the tests performed are flawed, degrading and inefficient.

Protests against Atos' sponsorship of next year's Commonwealth Games have been held outside the headquarters of Glasgow 2014Protests against Atos' sponsorship of next year's Commonwealth Games have been held outside the headquarters of Glasgow 2014

The SNP motion before the Council states that is regrets that Atos is helping to implement the [national] Coalition's "iniquitous welfare policies" and demands the Leader writes to the chief executive of Glasgow 2014 "seeking the removal of Atos as a corporate sponsor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games".

Atos is due to supply software to accredit up to 70,000 athletes, volunteers and officials for Glasgow 2014, and run the Games website.

Glasgow 2014 are likely to reject any calls to drop Atos as a sponsor but if the motion is passed - with Labour Councillors supporting their SNP colleagues - then it could be embarrassing for Johann Lamont, leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

Her husband, Councillor Archie Graham, is Glasgow's executive member for Glasgow 2014. 

Critics of Atos have already picketed the headquarters of Glasgow 2014 - briefly occupying the building - and held protests in the constituency of Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after she last year claimed that Atos's sponsorship was "a significant step forward for the Games".

A Glasgow 2014 spokesman told The Herald: "We are very proud to have global IT experts Atos as part of Glasgow 2014's Sponsor Family."

A date has yet to be set for when the debate will be held.

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September 2012: Atos set to be target of new protests over sponsorship of Glasgow 2014
August 2012: Olympic sponsor targeted by angry disability groups over links to London 2012 Paralympics
March 2012: Atos newest Official Supporter of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games