The managing director of a Birmingham business that made the medals for the first London Olympics in 1908 today complained of feeling "betrayed" over another London 2012 contract.

Vaughtons was turned down in an earlier bid to manufacture pin badges for the London Games, the business instead going to a major Chinese manufacturer.

Today’s Daily Mail reports Vaughtons managing director Steve Hobiss as saying, "I’m convinced the medal order is heading for China as well.

"It’s so frustrating when a traditional British firm, with our historic links with the Olympics, doesn’t even receive the opportunity to put in a bid. I feel we’ve been betrayed."

But London 2012 today denied that the medal contract had been awarded to China, and assured other interested businesses that the contract will be subject to a full competitive tendering process.

"We have not started the procurement process for medals yet," a  spokesman told insidethegames.

"We can categorically state that we have not spoken to any Chinese companies about manufacturing the medals for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

London 2012 also stress that 97 per cent of all contracts awarded for work relating to the Games have so far gone to British businesses.


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