IOC snubs India, backs Dow on Olympics sponsorship
The International Olympic Council President Jacques Rogge overlooked the concerns relating to Dow Chemicals sponsoring the London 2012 Olympic Games earlier raised by the Indian Olympic Association.
The International Olympic Council President Jacques Rogge overlooked the concerns relating to Dow Chemicals sponsoring the London 2012 Olympic Games earlier raised by the Indian Olympic Association.
Dow Chemicals, which last year in July signed an agreement with the IOC, is the company that took over Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal Gas tragedy that killed over 15,000 people and disabled lakhs.
The IOC President came out in support of the Games' global sponsor; "Definitely, we respect a lot the emotion in India because this is a horrific catastrophe. While we understand the emotions and the grief, one has to say that Dow Chemical was not involved in the Bhopal issue."
Rogge also urged Indian athletes to restrain from any boycott saying that any indulgence would only harm Indian sports.
The Indian authorities had conveyed to the IOA that the move had created "dismay among the victims and others who see Olympic Games as celebration of best of human spirits."
The concern had come up after protests in the country.
The IOA had also received representations from several Olympians and NGOs protesting the organisers' link with Dow.
Reportedly, former Olympians, IOA and the government in India were not happy with the sporting extravaganza's association with any 'tainted' sponsors.