No Dow Chemical branding on 2012 stadium

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LONDON, Dec 19: The organisers of the 2012 London Olympics said Monday that Dow Chemical's name will not appear on a fabric 'wrap' around the main stadium, in an issue which sparked threats of an Indian boycott. India is opposed to the company's involvement with the Games because of its links to the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster which killed tens of thousands of people in the Indian city. The London organisers, LOCOG, said it was never their intention Dow's name would be on the wrap during the Games, but Dow had now also agreed that its branding will not now even appear on five 'test' panels either. A LOCOG spokeswoman said: "There will definitely not be any Dow Chemical branding on the wrap before, during or after the Olympic Games. India's Olympic chief said on Friday that any decision to boycott the London Games over the involvement of Dow rested with the government. - AFP Barca still hungry after world triumph YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec 19: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has Spanish title rivals Real Madrid and European glory firmly back in his sights after a trip to the Far East that yielded another world crown. Guardiola sealed the 13th title of his glittering three-and-a-half-year reign on Sunday when the Catalans overpowered South American champions Santos 4-0, with Lionel Messi bagging a classy double. It was the perfect launchpad for 2012, Guardiola said, after a weekend on which Real Madrid went three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a thumping 6-2 win at Sevilla. European champions Barca arrived in Japan last week after an impressive 3-1 win away at Real took them back to the top of the league in Spain. - AFP Pakistan to play final with pink ball KARACHI, Dec 19: Pakistan will experiment with a pink ball in the final of its premier first-class cricket tournament on Tuesday. "The final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier first-class tournament, will be played with a pink ball, under floodlights", the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Monday. Pakistan International Airlines take on Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd in the final, to be played from December 20-24. Last year's final was also played under lights, but with an orange ball. Pink is widely regarded as the most suitable colour under floodlights. The Marylebone Cricket Club, the custodian of the laws of the game, has advocated the use of a pink ball for day-night Test cricket. An English county championship match between Kent and Glamorgan was played with a pink ball earlier this year. - AFP Coach backs faltering Thorpe SYDNEY, Dec 19: Australia's head swimming coach insists Ian Thorpe's hopes of competing at next year's London Olympics are still alive despite his struggles since returning to competitive action. The five-time Olympic gold medallist competed at his first long course event since early 2006 in Italy at the weekend, and slow times in both the 100m and 200m freestyle raised doubts over whether he would even make the Olympic team. "For any public figure like Ian everyone has an opinion," coach Leigh Nugent said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. - AFP Messi brace puts Neymar in his place YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec 19: The Club World Cup final between Barcelona and Santos was billed as a showdown between Lionel Messi and Neymar, but the Argentine wizard put the young upstart firmly in his place. Messi, widely acknowledged as the best player in the world, bagged an exquisite brace as the European champions strolled to a 4-0 victory in Japan to claim the annual intercontinental crown for a second time in three years. In contrast the young Brazilian, who at 19 is five years Messi's junior, suffered a wretched evening, making a hash of a header that would have given his side a glimmer of hope and failing to score when through on goal. - AFP