London Latest - Assembly Questions Dow Sponsorship; Swiss, Aussie, U.S. Teams

London Assembly Questions Sponsorship

The London Assembly called on LOCOG and the IOC to "rethink" the sponsorship of Dow Chemical.

The LA highlighted concerns with Dow’s link to the 1984 Bhopal industrial disaster in India. Thousands were killed after a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited leaked toxic gas into the city. Dow bought the Union Carbide Corporation in 2001.

In a statement, the LA said the motion that passed an Assembly vote on Tuesday "urges the IOC and national organising committees to consider the environmental, social, ethical and human rights records of companies when awarding high-profile partnership and sponsorship deals."

"Almost thirty years after the horrific Bhopal chemical disaster, the factory site has still not been cleared up and the survivors and their families continue to fight for compensation," said Navin Shah, who proposed the motion. "It is time for LOCOG and the IOC to exclude Dow Chemical from future sponsorship deals."

Olympic Teams Named

National Olympic Committees continue to announce their Olympic teams, with three NOCs announcing 1,052 Olympians to their squads Tuesday.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said 530 Americans will compete for Team USA in London.

"The United States of America will be represented at the Olympic Games in London by 530 of our country's finest individuals," USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said. "They are our nation's greatest athletes and embody what it means to be American. I look forward to watching them compete and to representing our nation both on and off the field of play."

For the first time, more women than men will be on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Also on Tuesday, the Australian Olympic Committee announced410 Australians will wear the green and gold.

While it will be Australia’s smallest Olympic team in 20 years, the AOC still has high hopes for the team.

"We are still aiming for a top five finish on the gold and overall medal tally," an AOC spokesman tells Around the Rings.

The Swiss Olympic Association also finalized its team selections with 102 Olympians.

Roger Federer and Fabian Cancellara are the two biggest names on the team. Both won golds in Beijing.

"Switzerland is traveling with well-prepared and ambitious athletes," chef de mission Gian Gilli said in a statement on the SOA website. "Our delegation has the potential for success."

He added the team hopes to finish in the top 25 on the medal tally.

The SOA also said the Paralympic team will have "around 25" members.

WADA to Dopers: Skip London

World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey told London Olympians who are doping to "stay away."

"A doping athlete cannot achieve success, it is a complete contradiction," Fahey said in a statement. "Even if a doping athlete were to win a medal he or she would never be able to look at themselves in the mirror and say 'well done, I deserved this'."

"These will be the most tested Games in Olympic history and doping athletes must know that they will be under the severe scrutiny of anti-doping officials."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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