Indian Olymic Asscn to convey Olympic sponsorship concerns to IOC

New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) With the Dow Chemicals sponsorship of next year's London Olympics causing outrage among the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy victims, the IOA today decided to take up the matter with the International Olympic Committee. The Indian Olympic Association today said that it will convey the concerns of the victims and Olympians to organisers of the 2012 London Games regarding its sponsorship deal with Dow. "We will discuss this issue in our Executive Board & General Body Meeting on 15th December, 2011, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement here. "We will try to make Games Organisers aware of the feeling of the people who have suffered due to that tragedy. It is not only the Indians who are protesting this sponsorship, there has been an outcry against this the world over from various NGOs and other bodies. It is no longer a local issue," he said. Dow Chemicals, which in July last year signed an agreement with the IOC, is the company that took over Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal Gas tragedy that killed over 15,000 people and disabled in hundred thousands. India's sports ministry earlier today asked the IOA to raise the issue with IOC. Dow Chemicals will foot the bill of a temporary decorative wrap over London's Olympic Stadium and the move has created "dismay among the victims and others who see Olympic Games as celebration of best of human spirits." The IOA has received representations from several Olympians and NGOs protesting the organisers' link with Dow. Malhotra said former Olympians, IOA and the Indian government are not happy with the sporting extravaganza's association with any 'tainted' sponsors. PTI Caption for pic: Survivors of the Bopal gas disaster protesting against Lord Sebestian Coe, the Chairman of the London Organising Committee of Olympic Games, for the choice of Dow Chemical as sustainability partner of the games, in Bhopal on December 2, 2011, on the eve of 27th anniversary of the tragedy. PTI Photo