Dow, one of 11 Worldwide Olympic Partners, has been criticised for their sponsorship of the Games because the company bought United States' chemical firm Union Carbide (pictured below), whose Bhopal plant leaked toxic gases in 1984, killing thousands of people in one of the worst ever industrial accidents.

Following the Bhopal disaster, Union Carbide settled its liabilities with the Indian government in 1989 by paying $470 million (£310 million/€351 million) for Bhopal victims, but Dow have come under attack despite purchasing Union Carbide a decade after the compensation deal.

The PCI President Sultan Ahmed has written a letter to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Phil Craven, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, to register their protest.

"Dow Chemical's association as a sponsor to the London 2012 Olympics is against the spirit of the Olympic Movement," said the letter.

"Their small gesture of not allowing the logo [on the London 2012 Olympic Stadium wrap] after protest from various quarters on the wraps is highly inadequate and doesn't reflect the will of the IOC to associate the responsibility of this firm to the greatest carnage called the Bhopal Disaster.


"We from Paralympic Committee of India unequivocally support the stand [of the IOA and the Indian Government] as we do not feel Dow Chemical embodies the integrity and humanity of the Olympic spirit.

"Considering that the Olympic Movement is about peace, progress and the world coming together to celebrate our common humanity, we request you to terminate the contract of Dow Chemical and have no association with them of any kind with immediate effect."

However, the IPC are unlikely to respond to the call from the PCI having already moved to distance itself from protests against Dow Chemical's sponsorship.

Earlier this year, a group of Indian Paralympians claimed that they had the full support of the IPC in their protests against Dow, but the governing body for the Paralympics confirmed that this was not the case.

"On 31 January 2012, the International Paralympic Committee responded to a petition letter from Indian Olympians asking for LOCOG [London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games] to reconsider sponsorship of London Olympics 2012 by Dow Chemical Company," an IPC spokesperson told insideworldparasport.

"In its response the IPC highlighted that Dow's sponsorship was not an issue for them to get involved in as the Paralympic Movement has no relations with the company.

"Furthermore, the IPC pointed out it has no jurisdiction over LOCOG, which is a totally autonomous organisation and who they choose as sponsors.

"The IPC did, however, express its deep sympathy to all victims of the Bhopal tragedy."

While London 2012 had the power to drop Dow as sponsor of the Olympic Stadium wrap, the decision to completely remove the company as an Olympic sponsor rests with the IOC, but the organisation's President Jacques Rogge has continually backed the company over the issue.

"While we totally understand the emotions and the grief, one has to say that Dow Chemical was not involved in the Bhopal issue," Rogge said in a recent interview.

"We have advised the IOA 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."

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