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Dow's name on fabric was not intentional: London organisers

December 20, 2011 08:21 IST

London Olympics organizers, on Monday, made it clear that it was never their intention that Dow Chemical's name would be on the fabric wrap around the main stadium for the Games and the company has now agreed to remove its branding.

India is opposed to the controversial United States company's involvement with the 2012 Games because of its links to the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster which killed thousands of people.

The London organisers, LOCOG, said Dow had now agreed that its branding will not appear on five 'test' panels either.

"There will definitely not be any Dow Chemical branding on the wrap before, during or after the Olympic Games," a LOCOG spokeswoman said.

"There was discussion about (having the branding on) the test panels but Dow Chemical have now agreed to adhere to what we call our 'clean policy'."

Dow is a major sponsor of both the London Games and the International Olympic Committee.

Indian Olympic Association said that it is not satisfied with the move and wants US giant to remove its sponsorship from the 2012 Games.

IOA acting president V K Malhotra said the body has been pressing for total removal of Dow Chemical as a sponsor of the London Olympics.

"Our demand is that Dow should be removed as a sponsor and we have expressed strong reservation with the IOC and London organisers. We have also communicated to Dow conveying the sentiments in India," Malhotra said.

"So all that we want is that it should be removed as a sponsor," he added.

The company's involvement with Olympics was questioned due to the responsibility and liability of its subsidiary, Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), in the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster. Dow bought UCC in 2001 and denies responsibility for UCC's liability in Bhopal.

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