The Indian Olympic Association on Monday expressed deep concern at Dow Chemical Company's sponsorship role in the 2012 London Olympics and said it would write to the organisers to reconsider the decision.
"It is a matter of great concern for us. A company which is responsible for the death of so many people and against whom a case is still pending in the courts is being roped in," IOA Acting President V K Malhotra said.
- Bhopal gas disaster wrap over London Olympics
Malhotra said the IOA will write to the organisers expressing the sentiments of the people. He said the Indian government should also look into the matter.
"The government will have a major say in these matters. Earlier also, twice or thrice some decisions were taken by various governments.
"Once the entire western block objected to something and once the eastern or the Russian block objected. But in this case the government has to be taken into confidence," Malhotra said.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has announced that Dow Chemical would fund a seven million pounds artwork wrap around the stadium during next year's Games.
The decision has outraged campaigners fighting for up to 5,000 people who died in the devastating chemical leak in Bhopal in 1984, the report said.
Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide Corporation, whose former Indian subsidiary ran the doomed plant, in 2001.
The company, embroiled in a compensation wrangle over Bhopal, said the $470 million compensation settlement reached by Union Carbide in 1989 was final. On average the families of those who died received roughly 1,400 pounds.
It has insisted it is not liable and has refused to pay more or to clear toxic waste from the site.
