(ATR) The Indian Olympic Association dismisses reports suggesting it will consider a boycott of the London 2012 Games at a meeting next week.
A group of Indian athletes’ had petitioned the IOA to boycott the Olympics amid anger about Dow Chemicals’ 2012 sponsorship, and the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster. Reports last week indicated a boycott was under serious consideration.
But IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Monday that a boycott was not up for discussion.
"We are meeting next week but it's not about boycotting the Games. Some people have raised a concern about the sponsorship issue and we will discuss that, along with some other issues," Malhotra told Reuters.
"Some former Olympians are upset with the sponsorship deal and would like them [London 2012 organizers] to reconsider it," said the IOC chief, who is a key figure in India's main opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party.
Dow was London 2012's final major sponsorship. The company is contributing the fabric wrap that will encircle the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium.
Some of India's Olympians are among those who have urged the country's government to boycott the Games, if Dow remains an Olympic sponsor.
In 2001, Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide, which owned the majority of the stocks of the company responsible at the time of the gas disaster that killed over 15,000 people and injured tens of thousands more.
Activists say Dow should drop its sponsorship of the Games and use the money to compensate the victims of the tragedy.
Dow has insisted it should not be blamed for the tragedy.
Earlier this month, LOCOG offered support for the TOP sponsor, emphasizing that Dow Chemical was not responsible for the gas leak
Dow also defended its Olympic sponsorship, a spokesperson telling Around the Rings: "There are some who continue to try to affix responsibility for the Bhopal tragedy to Dow, but the fact is that Dow never owned, operated, nor inherited the facility in Bhopal, and efforts to attach Dow are misdirected."
Reported by Mark Bisson
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