IOA to convey protest to IOC over Dow Chemicals' involvement in London Olympics

NEW DELHI The Indian Olympic Association has agreed to convey to the International Olympic Committee the anger in India over the decision of the organisers of the 2012 London Olympics to associate Dow Chemicals as one of its worldwide partners. Dow Chemicals, which purchased Union Carbide Corporation in August 1999, is among the 12 worldwide partners of London Olympics.

Union Carbide was responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster that claimed lives of over 10,000 people and left several lakhs fighting disability. IOA was forced to take up the matter with IOC after the sports ministry flagged concerns over the status of Dow Chemicals as one of the worldwide partners of London Olympics and asked the former to step in to address the issue.

“We will discuss this issue in our executive board and general body meeting on December 15, 2011,’’ IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement on Monday. “We will try to make the games organisers aware of the feeling of the people who have suffered due to that tragedy. 3

It is not only the Indians who are protesting this sponsorship, there has been an outcry against this world over from various NGOs and other bodies, it is no longer a local issue,’’ he said. Dow Chemicals will foot the bill of a temporary decorative wrap over London's Olympic Stadium and the move, according to IOA, has created “dismay among victims and others who see Olympic Games as celebration of best of human spirits.”

IOA has received representations from Olympians and NGOs protesting the involvement of Dow in the games. Malhotra said former Olympians, IOA and the government were not happy with the sporting extravaganza’s links with any ‘tainted’ sponsors.

In its letter to IOA, the sports ministry had observed that “the matter of Dow’s liability, in respect of the Bhopal Gas tragedy victims is sub-judice and that the Government of India has itself filed a suit against the company. Strong public sentiment exists in this matter and a number of eminent ex-Olympians have also raised concerns”.

“In the light of the above, and the fact that under the agreement between Dow and IOC, Dow will partner IOC and National Olympic Committees around the world, including India, we would advise IOA to raise this matter immediately with the IOC while keeping the government informed,’’ it added.