Indian athletes to be asked for opinion on boycotting London 2012 Olympic Games
Ajay Maken, who is the Minister of Sports for India has recently given a statement in which he has said that the views of the Indian athletes should be taken on whether or not to send the Indian delegation to the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games.
The question of the Indian boycott from the Olympic Games has come up because of the partnership of the London Organising Committee of Olympic Games with Dow Chemical Company.
The Dow Chemical company is linked with one of the worst industrial disasters that have yet occurred in history. The tragic incident took place in Bhopal where a factory owned by Dow Chemical by the name of Union Carbide Corporation was responsible for a
gas leak. The gas leak caused the deaths of several thousands of local residents in the region. Not only that, the disastrous effects of the gas leak continued to occur for several years afterwards as well as children born to the survivors had birth defects.
Dow Chemical Company paid off some of its liabilities to the Indian government as well as the local residents but the amount of not deemed to be sufficient by the affectees.
As a result, the Dow Chemical Company has been asked by the Indian government to clear off its liabilities first which they have not been able to do so in consequence of which the Indian quarters are asking for the ending of the partnership of Dow with the
LOCOG.
Maken expressed himself on the matter in the following words while talking to the media, “What athletes feel will play a very important role in our decision. It will have a bearing on the decision we take. We have not yet decided on that. I can't say anything
on that. We will keep in mind the sensitivities and feelings of the Bhopal people as well as feelings of the players. For us, we would not like to choose either of the two. We are going full steam as far as preparations are concerned. We have put in the best
coaches and the best places to train.”
Tags: