THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI AJAY MAKEN)
(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO.89 FOR 20-03-2012 ASKED BY SHRI MAHESHWAR HAZARI & SHRI PRABODH
PANDA REGARDING INVOLVEMENT OF DOW CHEMICALS IN LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES
(a) to (d): M/s. Dow Chemicals is one of the sponsors for the forthcoming
London Olympics, 2012. Ministry has received representations from various
quarters for taking up the matter with organizers of London Olympics, 2012
for removing Dow Chemicals from the sponsorship of the Olympic Games, 2012.
The Ministry had advised the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to take up
the matter emphatically with International Olympic Committee (IOC) and
London Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to
draw their attention to the sensitivites of the victims of Bhopal Gas
tragedy,1984. It was pointed out to IOA that the association of IOC with
Dow Chemicals Company militates against the high ethical principles
represented by the Olympic movement. IOA took up the matter with IOC
and LOCOG conveying India’s concerns on this sensitive issue and asking
them to consider the decision about the sponsorship by Dow Chemicals for
London Olympics, 2012.
In response to IOA’s taking up the matter with IOC, the latter replied stating
that Dow Chemicals had no connection with the Bhopal tragedy since Dow did not
have any ownership stake in Union Carbide until 16 years after the accident and
12 years after the US $ 470 million compensation agreement was approved by the
Supreme Court of India.
The Ministry also took up the matter directly with IOC urging it to go
beyond lesser considerations, and in the larger interests of the ideals
of human rights, compassion and solidarity, cancel the sponsorship of
Dow Chemicals for the London Olympics, 2012, thereby apart from assuaging
the feelings of millions of people, send a strong message the world over,
for upholding the noble ideals of the Olympic Movement. However, IOC has
reiterated their earlier stand on the issue.
(e) & (f): The matter at the diplomatic level has been raised by the
High Commission of India in London with the LOCOG highlighting the enormous
public discontent in India over the continued suffering of the victims of
the Bhopal Gas leak tragedy. Further the Government of India raised the
issue with its United Kingdom counterpart. The United Kingdom Government,
while expressing sorrow for the victims of the tragedy, has said that the
issue of Dow Chemicals sponsorship of the London Olympic Games was arranged
and done by the International Olympic Committee.
