NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW), chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris announced today that the Company has become an official Worldwide Olympic Partner as part of The Olympic Partners Program (TOP).

As the official “Chemistry Company” of the Olympic Movement, Dow will partner with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and National Olympic Committees through 2020.

“With our long-standing commitment to global sustainability, innovation, scientific excellence and addressing world challenges, we believe Dow is perfectly matched to the vision of the Olympic Movement, which is about peace, progress and the world coming together to celebrate our common humanity,” said Liveris. “In addition, our association with the Olympics will present Dow with tremendous new business opportunities, making this partnership a powerful growth catalyst that comes at the right time in our Company’s strategic transformation.”

IOC president Dr. Jacques Rogge joined Liveris at today’s press conference to unveil the joint logo — joining Dow’s red diamond with the Olympic rings — and to welcome Dow as the newest member of the TOP program.

“We are delighted to welcome Dow to the TOP Program,” said Dr. Rogge. “As a global leader in the chemical industry and an innovator in sustainability, Dow will provide much more than critical financial support to the Olympic Movement. They will also bring industry-leading expertise and innovation to the Games themselves. Dow will be an important partner in making our vision for sustainability and global cooperation a reality.”

In the years prior to today’s announcement that Dow would become a Worldwide Olympic Partner, the Company has been associated with the Olympic Movement since it made significant donations of Styrofoam™ insulation used in ice skating and bobsled runs at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Most recently, Dow has been an official supplier of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“Dow businesses produce the building blocks of thousands of products and materials that come together to facilitate the success and the competitions within the Olympic Games, said Heinz Haller, Dow Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “The Olympics will provide an important global stage for our products and our brand. They will also support Dow’s transformation to a technology-focused, market-driven, customer-centric organization.

In 2011, Dow’s sponsorship will also bring to life and extend the themes and values of the UNESCO’s “International Year of Chemistry” which will highlight the important role chemistry must play to help meet human challenges of the future.

“We are delighted that Dow is extending its partnership to a global basis for the next decade. The long-term nature of this partnership is excellent news for the Olympic Movement and ultimately for the athletes themselves,” said IOC Marketing Commission Chairman Gerhard Heiberg.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.