IOC-Dow agreement untenable, against Olympic Charter: Activists

NEW DELHI: Two organisations that have been fighting for justice for Bhopal gas victims today demanded that the International Olympic Committee terminate the "untenable" partnership with Dow Chemicals for the 2012 London Olympics.

Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghathan and Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti said the IOC should "rescind" its decision of allowing Dow as partner to maintain the spirit of the Olympic Movement and to "uphold the sanctity of the Olympic Charter and the Code of Ethics".

"We urge the IOC and the London 2012 Organising Committee to rescinded that decision because we firmly believe that the said decision was made on the basis of false and misleading information furnished to you by Dow," they said in a letter to IOC chief Jacquos Rogge.

The letter also accused Dow of "practicing and condoning racial discrimination" and "guilty of resorting to falsehood, bribery and intimidation to promote its business interests."

Dow Chemicals is responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster that claimed over 25,000 lives.

The two organisations also quoted 'Fundamental Principles of Olympism' that says "any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement," to drive home their point.

"We urge the IOC and the LOCOG to ensure that the principles and rules as set out in the Olympic Charter and the Code of Ethics are applied and IOC's and LOCOG's untenable partnership with Dow is terminated forthwith," the letter said.