Athletes Against Dow Chemical

If the IOC is going to demand certain ethics from athletes in order to preserve the image and ideal of the Olympic movement, then it is unfair these ethos are not demanded of sponsors.

Dow Chemical is behind some of the most disastrous American business and political decisions in American history.

(LOS ANGELES) - U.S. and Canadian athletes, some of whom swam for UCLA, others that were on the Canadian National Swim Team, are drawing attention to the implications of Dow Chemical's Olympic Sponsorship. The group wants to address the issue, so they drafted a letter which is circulating amongst athletes and a facebook page was created.

There are two issues at work. One, is that the IOC is saying that no one, besides a few associations (Bhopal and now Agent Orange victims), has any issues regarding Dow Chemical's Olympic sponsorship. This however, is not completely accurate since most of the athletes we have been reaching out to don't even know who or what the company does or is. Ignorance is acceptance by default.

Our first aim is to inform fellow athletes, about the Dow Chemical's violations, which we feel are not coherent with the Olympic Code of Ethics or the philosophy of Olympism. And secondly, to highlight the double standards that exist for athletes as opposed to sponsors in terms of their conduct and actions.

The Olympic Code of Ethics applies to:

• the IOC, its members and administration;
• the cities that wish to organise the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games;
• the National Olympic Committees;
• the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games;
• during the Olympic Games, the Olympic Games participants; and during the Youth Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games participants. The participants include the athletes, team members, coaches, judges, jury members, etc.

Here is the full text of the Code of Ethics: http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/IOC%20Code%20of%20Ethics%20_Eng_.pdf

If the IOC is going to demand certain ethics from athletes in order to preserve the image and ideal of the Olympic movement, then it is unfair these ethos are not demanded of sponsors.

We are focusing on Dow Chemical, but BP's Gulf of Mexico spill, EDF found guilty of espionage, Procter & Gamble (who's products contains cancer causing substances like methylparabens, more here: www.ewg.org/node/21025) are not exemplary sponsors either. (These are just brief overviews of these other companies).

Sponsors are using the healthy image of athletes and their inspirational accomplishments to push products that are unhealthy and counter to the Olympic ideal as it is defined in the Olympic Charter and Code of Ethics.

For some athletes, this is not an issue, or they do no research before signing on with a sponsor: news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/procter-gamble-launches-global-thank-you-mom-campaign-londo

www.dow.com/golf/golfhome.htm

USA Luge Team
USA Speedskating Team
USA Bobsled Team
www.dow.com/olympicpartnership/about/history.htm Either way, we are trying to make more athletes aware of the implications of these sponsorships.

Please visit and support the facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Athletes-Against-Dow-Chemicals-Olympic-Sponsorship/184980758253492