Sports company left limping: An Indonesian human rights activist has turned down a $50,000 award from US sportswear giant Reebok.

Dita Sari, head of the National Front for Indonesian Workers Struggle (FNPBI), said that she was unable to accept Reebok's annual Human Rights Award because of the low wages paid by its subcontractors to third world workers.

While Indonesian workers earn $1.50 a day and live in poverty, Reebok collects millions of dollars of profit every year, she explained.

'We surely hope that our stand can make a contribution to help changing the labor condition in Reebok-produced companies.' [No Logo].

Reebok said it was working to improve labour conditions in its factories around the world. It hopes that other global companies will adopt the same approach.

'We understand Dita Sari’s drive to achieve the same goal in her own unique way, and Reebok applauds her efforts.' [Codagroup].

Reebok will now present three awards on Friday as part of the Olympic Arts Festival in Salt Lake City.

The 2002 winners include an advocate for abused children from Zambia, a rescuer of child prostitutes from India, and a civil rights activist from the United States.

Since 1988, when it was first set up, the Reebok programme has given awards to 68 human rights activists from 35 countries.