(ATR) A spokesperson for Dow Chemical tells Around the Rings the company is not responsible for an industrial disaster that has advocacy groups demanding an end to its Olympic sponsorship.
In 1984, a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide leaked toxins into the city of Bhopal. According to the Indian government, around 3,000 people were killed in the following days and 15,000 died subsequently.
At the time, Union Carbide India Limited owned and operated the plant. In 2001, Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide Corporation.
Advocacy groups and some Indian athletes are blaming Dow for the incident and demanding its Olympic partnership be cancelled.
"It is disappointing that some people are trying to assign blame and responsibility to Dow. Dow never owned or operated the facility in Bhopal," Scot Wheeler said in an email to ATR.
"Dow acquired the shares of Union Carbide Corporation more than 16 years after the tragedy, and 10 years after the $470 million settlement agreement – paid by Union Carbide Corporation and Union Carbide India, Limited – was approved by the Indian Supreme Court."
Wheeler pointed out that the facility is now owned by the local government.
"Today, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh owns and controls the site and is in the best position, and has the authority under the direction of the Courts, to complete whatever remediation may be necessary and to make the right decisions for Bhopal," he said.
Dow, a member of The Olympic Partner program since July 2010, is due to provide a giant fabric wrap for London 2012’s main stadium.
"As the official ‘Chemistry Company’ of the Olympic Movement, we are able to bring our focus on solutions through scientific and technological innovation and our long-standing commitment to sustainability and addressing world challenges to the Olympic Games," Wheeler told ATR.
"We believe Dow is perfectly matched to the vision of the Olympic Movement, which is about peace, progress and the world coming together to celebrate our common humanity."
To date, the IOC’s reaction echoes that of London organizers, who insisted earlier this month to ATR they have no issue with the partnership.
Written by Ann Cantrell.
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