International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge has rejected India's calls to terminate Dow Chemicals' sponsorship deal with the IOC and 2012 London Games and called on the country to recognize Dow's contribution to the Olympic Movement.

The Indian Olympic Association has demanded London 2012 terminate its deal with the US firm because of its links to India's 1984 Bhopal gas disaster that killed thousands of people.

Dow will provide the decorative wrap for London's Olympic stadium despite continuing criticism of its involvement.

Responding to a letter from IOA chief Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Rogge replied that while the IOC sympathized with the people of Bhopal, the American chemical giant's values were aligned with those of the Olympic Movement.

"The IOC and LOCOG were aware of the Bhopal tragedy when discussing the partnership with Dow," Rogge wrote. "Dow had no connection with the Bhopal tragedy. Dow did not have any ownership stake in Union Carbide until 16 years after the accident and 12 years after the US$470 million compensation agreement was approved by the Indian Supreme Court.

"The Olympic Movement sympathizes with the grief of the victims' families and regrets the ongoing suffering people face in the region. We only enter into partnerships with organizations that we believe work in accordance with the values of the Olympic Movement. Dow is a global leader in its field of business and is committed to good corporate governance."