The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urging it to persuade the London Olympic Organising Committee (LOCOG) to remove Dow Chemical as one of the sponsors of the Games.
In a letter to the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, the acting president of the IOA, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, conveyed the “deep feeling of hurt of millions of people” regarding Dow's sponsorship of the London Games.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to the LOCOG Chairman, Sebastian Coe.
False campaign
Malhotra explained in his letter that a “false campaign” had been launched by Dow to convey that the matter regarding the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 had been “settled”. He said the final settlement was still pending in court.
“It is IOA's considered opinion that Dow Chemicals should be removed as the sponsors of the Games, Because the very presence of this company is against the spirit of the Olympic ideals,” Malhotra wrote in his letter.
He informed the IOC Chief that the IOA had received representations from several former Olympians, hundreds of suffering people, NGOs and agencies working among the thousands of gas victims, protesting the LOCOG's link with Dow.
The IOA has informed the Union Sports Ministry about the letter sent to the IOC. It has also sought the government's view on the matter.
“We will like to hear from you about the Government's stand on this issue. It will be in the interest of Indian sports if (the) Government and (the) IOA are on the same page and speak in one voice on this sensitive matter,” Malhotra wrote to the minister.
Overlooked
What has apparently been overlooked by the IOA as well as several people and organisations protesting against Dow's involvement with the London Games, is the fact that Dow is one of the 11 companies associated with the IOC's world-wide Olympic Partner (TOP) Programme.
Revenue earned from TOP Programme is directly distributed among National Olympic Committees (NOCs) for the support of the “Olympic athletes and Olympic hopefuls” and their training programme.
The IOA is also a beneficiary under this scheme.
The IOC distributes more than 90 per cent of its revenues, mainly earned from broadcasting rights and TOP Programme, among Games organising committees, international federations and NOCs.
Dow joined as a world-wide partner of the IOC in July, 2010.
A press release issued by the IOC at the time of its agreement with Dow stated: “The agreement positions Dow as an official Worldwide Olympic Partner and the official Chemistry company for the Olympic Movement through to 2020, including for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Rio 2016 Olympic Games… As part of the agreement, Dow will also partner the IOC and the National Olympic Committees around the world.”
Since protests began in India and England, Dow has agreed to remove its branding from the 11-million dollar wrap around the main London stadium which it would be providing.
