The Indian Government has asked its National Olympic Committee to raise the issue of Dow's £7 million ($11 million/€8 million) sponsorship of the wrap around the Olympic Stadium.

Many victims and activists hold Dow responsible for failing to give enough compensation to victims and some have called for a boycott of the London Games.

Protests were held last weekend to coincide with the 27th anniversary of the disaster in Bhopal where a Union Carbide pesticide plant leaked lethal gas that killed an estimated 15,000 people and maimed tens of thousands more.

Dow, who became a worldwide Olympic sponsor in July 2010, bought Union Carbide in 2001 and has always maintained that legal claims regarding the gas leak were resolved when Union Carbide paid $470 million (£310 million/€351 million) as compensation for those killed or injured.

Rogge has now backed Dow.

"Definitely we respect a lot the emotion in India because this is a horrific catastrophe," Rogge told Reuters in an interview. 

"While we totally understand the emotions and the grief one has to say that Dow Chemical was not involved in the Bhopal issue.

"We have advised the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) to enter into a dialogue with their athletes and this is what they will do. I would hope the interest of sport and interest of the athletes will prevail.

"Every measure calling for a boycott is a measure that is hurting Indian sport and I am glad to say that there is no intention at the level of the IOA to consider such actions."

But there is still pressure in India for them to boycott London 2012 with a campaign being spearheaded by Aslam Sher Khan, a member of the Indian hockey that won the Olympic bronze medals at Munich in 1972 who is now an MP.

He has written to India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,warning "It will be a black day for India if it participate in such Games" and claiming that British MPs are doing more to highlight the issue than he is.

"Are we a banna Republic?" he wrote.

"MPs of UK Parliament are showing great concern for sentiments of people of Bhopal.

"It will be highly insensitive of the [Indian] Government to remain a mute spectator when MPs from a foreign country are showing greater concern."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2011: Indian Government ask IOA to raise Dow sponsorship with London 2012 but rule out boycott
December 2011: Effigy of Sebastian Coe burnt as Indian protests against Dow Olympic sponsorship continue
November 2011: India not considering London 2012 boycott over Dow sponsorship
August 2011: London 2012 Olympic Stadium wrap to be sponsored by Dow Chemical
July 2010: Dow Chemical officially unveiled as latest Olympic sponsor