Sponsorship decision taken by IOC, organizing committee: UK

Pointing out that sponsorship decisions were taken by the International Olympic Committee and the London Organising Committee and not by the government, the UK today said Dow Chemicals neither owned or operated the plant at the time of the Bhopal gas leak tragedy.

"Dow neither owned or operated in the plant at the time of the tragedy or at the time when the final settlement was paid in 1989," a British High Commission spokesperson here said.

In a letter to International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, the Sports Ministry has sought Dow's removal as Olympic sponsor.

Dow currently owns Union Carbide the company responsible for the 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy.

The move came after the IOC refused to entertain pleas by the Indian Olympic Association to remove Dow as sponsor.

However, the spokesperson said, "the decision on the sponsorship has been taken by the International Olympic Committee and also the London Organising Committee. These are not decisions taken by British government."