'Greenest ever' London Olympics claims trashed over 'Blood of Bhopal' Dow type sponsors

London, Apr 17 (ANI): Human rights groups have dismissed London Olympic chief Sebastian Coe's claims that the upcoming sport event 'will be the greenest ever Games' as 'corporate spin', and will stage a protest against the Olympic committee for picking up sponsors responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, and causing other environmental damage.

Companies such as BP, Rio Tinto and Dow Chemical Company, who have paid tens of millions of pounds to become Olympic sponsors, collectively face allegations of causing environmental degradation, damaging public health and failing to clean up their pollution.

The companies will face criticism by a coalition of international grassroots organisations as part of their 'Greenwash Gold 2012' campaign in London, The Independent reports.

Meredith Alexander, the former Olympics 'ethics tsar' who earlier this year resigned from the Commission for a Sustainable London over sponsorship controversies, will chair a meeting of activists from India, the United States, Mongolia and Canada.

"The UK promised that London 2012 would be the greenest games ever, but when it came to picking sponsors it seems someone didn't get the memo," the paper quoted Alexander, as saying.

"The International Olympic Committee managed to select Dow, which owns the company ultimately responsible for Bhopal, one of the most polluted sites on the planet; a major mining polluter in the form of Rio Tinto; and BP who are investing in the dirtiest form of oil. Recycling rubbish and energy efficiency schemes are fantastic, but they can't make up for a failure to scrutinise sponsors," he added.

According to the paper, activists will show personal stories about how communities have allegedly been adversely affected by the companies' activities.

Also, award-winning animators will screen short films about each company to reveal the "the green spin". Medals will be presented to the companies in July based on the outcome of a public vote for the 'worst corporate sponsor'.

Dow is sponsoring the 14 million pound Olympic stadium wrap, and also has contracts to provide the artificial grass for hockey pitches and roof insulation for some stadiums and accommodation in the Olympic village.

The move has outraged campaigners fighting for 25,000 people who died in India's devastating chemical leak in 1984. (ANI)