It’s a Wrap! Dow Chemical Company to Produce London 2012’s Olympic Stadium Wrap

Worldwide Olympic Partner Dow, the official “Chemistry Company” of the Olympic Movement, has partnered with the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to produce a sustainable, fabric “wrap” that will encircle London’s iconic Olympic Stadium.

The wrap consists of 336 individual panels – each approx 25 meters high and 2.5 meters wide – and will help the stadium become the visual centerpiece of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Installation will be completed by spring 2012.

In keeping with LOCOG’s goal to stage a sustainable Olympic Games, Dow will repurpose the wrap following the 2012 Olympic competitions. Additionally, the wrap will be made of light-weight polyester fabric with a low-density Polyethylene coating that will require fewer raw materials to manufacture.

“Dow became a Worldwide TOP Partner in 2010 and has already embraced the true spirit of the Olympic Movement,” said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. “We’re proud to work together with Dow to advance our sustainability efforts as we approach the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe welcomed the announcement, ‘The stadium will look spectacular at Games time and having the wrap is the icing on the cake.  I’m delighted that Dow as one of the newer worldwide partners of the Olympic movement will be providing it and importantly doing it in a sustainable way.  It reflects our vision and is a real statement of intent from Dow about their commitment to the Games.”

George Hamilton, vice president of Dow Olympic Operations, said the company is committed to finding a sustainable post-games use for the wrap and is investigating several options.

“Our goal is to provide solutions that help make the Olympic Games more sustainable, safer and that will help improve performance,” said Hamilton. “We’re providing this wrap as a sustainable solution for the Games and we look forward to celebrating its completion with Olympic fans around the world. We’re proud that the wrap will have a lasting and sustainable legacy, and one that will improve quality of life long after the closing ceremonies.” 

In July 2010, Dow announced its official Worldwide Olympic Partnership as part of The Olympic Partners Program (TOP). As the official “Chemistry Company” of the Olympic Movement, Dow is partnered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and National Olympic Committees around the world through 2020.