The Controversy of Dow Sponsorship

Description

An issue at the 2012 Games is LOCOG's controversial decision accept sponsorship from Dow Chemicals, and to appoint them to the TOP Partner Programme. Dow Chemicals took over the company (in 1999) which had owned the Union Carbide Chemical Plant in Bhopal in India, which was responsible for a chemical leak which killed up to 25,000 people in 1984. Although Dow deny any responsibility at the time, it is argued that they took over the liabilities of Union Carbide and a settlement of £288 million which is regarded by the Indian Government as insufficient. This case study examines another example of a dubious sponsonship agreement by the Olympic Movement.