London 2012: PM Cameron has no problem with sponsor Dow Chemicals

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he does not have any problem with Dow Chemical sponsoring the London 2012 Olympics. The company has its critics who say it is closely linked with Union Carbide, the company behind the Bhopal disaster.

Mr Cameron even went on Indian state television to explain that Dow Chemicals are a "reputable firm" and the games should not be used for industrial or political objectives. The prime minister was keen to point out that Dow Chemicals had no involvement with Union Carbide at the time of the Bhopal Disaster in 1984. The disaster, widely considered to be the world's worst-ever industrial catastrophe, killed around 3,000 people within a week of the gas leak. A further 8,000 died within the months that followed. Dow Chemical Company purchased Union Carbide in 2001. The company are funding a £7m ($11m) fabric wrap for the Olympic stadium in east London. The stadium is the centre stage arena for this summer's Olympic games and Dow's fabric wrap will be over half a mile long and 67ft (20m) high, according to the BBC. In an interview with CNN-IBN Mr Cameron said: I cannot see a problem with the International Olympic Committee being sponsored by Dow. I think it followed perfectly reasonable processes. Therefore, I cannot complain about Dow sponsoring the London Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association and several Indian Olympians have threatened to boycott marching in the London Olympic opening ceremony in protest against Dow Chemical's £64 million sponsorship and its specific endorsement of the £7 million Olympic Stadium wrap. A formal complaint has also been received at the IOC headquarters, issued by the government in Delhi.