Olympics seen as wool's golden fleece

Now a movement has begun to put this proud history firmly on display when the world's attention turns to Britain for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Sheep farmers, textile artisans and a growing number of the general public want to use London 2012 to bring the spotlight on the British wool industry – one of the foundations of Britain's industrial revolution which made the country a worldwide economic power.

As well as the heritage attached to wool, campaigners want to highlight its green credentials and drive home to the Olympic organisers the need to provide a showcase for what was once Britain's biggest export.

The National Farmers' Union recently set up a petition to get British wool to the Olympics which has already attracted 1,500 signatures and union officials met this week with Prince Charles, who they hope will lend his backing to the campaign.

The ultimate aim is to provide a platform and recognition for the historic industry, from the farmers who produce the wool to the skilled manufacturers who process it, by using products made from British wool wherever possible.

The NFU county chairman for the West Riding, David Airey, a sheep farmer himself, said: "Wool is such a naturally versatile product that it presents a whole range of possibilities for the Games.

"Running shorts are maybe not an option, but there are a great many other ways of using wool – from carpets to garments and I've even heard rumours that commemorative badges or brooches for competitors could be made from wool.

"From a farming point of view, the petition is important because wool has been in the doldrums for too long. As a result, it has been many years since farmgate prices have even covered the cost of clipping so this drive to promote what is, after all, a completely natural and biodegradable product from a thoroughly renewable and sustainable source, is very timely."

Also backing the move is the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show, who will be encouraging visitors to this month's event to sign up to the scheme at the popular sheep shearing demonstration and competition.

Honorary show director Bill Cowling said: "To my mind this is just common sense.

"British wool is produced by more than 60,000 farming families across the UK and the North East is home to more sheep than anywhere else in England. It would be a great shame if we missed this chance to remind people of the value of wool and so help our hard-pressed sheep farmers.

"I very much hope we will encourage hundreds of people to add their names to the petition."

Among those behind the charge to have wool representing in the olympics is Martin Curtis, a Yorkshire wool merchant based in Bradford. Together with his brother Simon he runs Curtis Wool Direct, and has come up with the concept of producing carpets for the Olympics which use undyed wool from sheep breeds all over the country – in celebration of the diversity of sheep breeds found here.

In particular he is keen to use wool from hill farmers, who often fail to get as good a price as their lowland counterparts because the wool they produce has a slightly darker colouring.

Mr Curtis and those behind the campaign have already met with the Olympic Delivery Committee and the construction companies involved in the creation of the athletes' village.

Mr Curtis told the Yorkshire Post: "Wool from hill farms is often undervalued. We would blend different wools from all over the country."

He hopes the carpets will be used in the athlete's village and be used in the subsequent apartments and housing that is left behind as part of the game's legacy.

To sign the petition log on to www.nfuonline.com.