MIDLAND, Mich., Jul 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- To support The Dow Chemical Company's (NYSE:DOW) recently announced 10-year worldwide sponsorship of the Olympic Games, George Hamilton, vice president of Government Markets, has been named vice president, Dow Olympic Operations.

On Friday July 16, Dow Chairman and CEO, Andrew Liveris, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Dr. Jacques Rogge, announced an agreement for Dow to become a TOP (The Olympic Program) partner. The sponsorship extends from 2010 through 2020.

Hamilton will lead the Dow Olympic Operations Team. The team will be responsible for maximizing the businesses and brand-related opportunities associated with the sponsorship. Hamilton will report to Heinz Haller, executive vice president, Performance Systems, Asia Pacific, Dow AgroSciences and Marketing/Sales.

"Dow's Worldwide Olympic sponsorship marks the beginning of 10 years of showcasing our people, our products, our scientific excellence and our commitment to sustainable solutions to the world's challenges on a global stage," Haller said. "As a TOP Worldwide Olympic Partner, Dow will be involved in building the infrastructure for all Olympic Games during this period. We are serious about capturing new revenue and are putting in place a business structure that ensures our new partnership will deliver maximum value for shareholders. George has a proven track record of success in activating and leading new business models. He is uniquely qualified to drive Dow's success in this important effort."

Over the course of the sponsorship Dow expects access to more than $150 billion in new infrastructure spending generating incremental sales of $1 billion. More than 30 Dow business units sell into Olympics-related infrastructure markets. Product examples related to the market include insulating materials, heat transfer fluids, architectural and industrial coatings, electrification and power insulation, plastics and many others.

The agreement between Dow and the IOC positions Dow as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner and the Official Chemistry Company for the Olympic Movement through to 2020. The sponsorship includes the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Rio 2016 Olympic Games (as well as for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the 2020 Olympic Games, for which the host cities have yet to be elected). As part of the agreement, Dow will also partner with the IOC and the National Olympic Committees around the world.

Hamilton joined Dow in 1977 as a seller of plastics to the automotive industry and has held a variety of positions in sales, marketing, application development and business operations during his 33 years with the company. Prior to his Government Markets role he managed two global business units for Dow as Vice President of Dow Coating Solutions and as President of Dow Automotive. He holds a B.S. in business administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina and an Executive MBA from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Timeline of Dow's Engagement with the Olympic Games

Lake Placid 1980 Winter Games

Dow makes significant donations of STYROFOAM(TM) insulation used in ice skating rinks and bobsled runs.

Calgary 1988 Winter Games

Dow makes STYROFOAM(TM) insulation used in the construction of ski jumps and the bobsled run in Calgary. Also, Dow's TACTIX performance polymer used to produce several sleds for the USA Bobsled Team.

Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games

Dow becomes an official sponsor of the USA Bobsled Team. From 1994-present, Dow is an official sponsor of USA Cycling.

Atlanta 1996 Summer Games

Dow begins to participate in Olympic Games corporate hospitality 1996, and continues its hospitality participation during the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Games.

Nagano 1998 Winter Games

Dow is once again a sponsor of the USA Bobsled Team. From 1998-present, Dow is the official sponsor of U.S. Speedskating.

Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games

Dow establishes the "Endowed Athlete Tuition Assistance Fund" in support of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Dow's PELADOW(TM) calcium chloride pellets keep walks clear and safe for athletes, volunteers and spectators. Dow's PELLETHANE(R) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers are used to make a skeleton racing shoe. STYROFOAM(TM) extruded polystyrene insulates 13 Olympic facilities. DOWEX(R) Ion exchange used in the Speedskating Oval along with heat transfer fluids.

Athens 2004 Summer Games

STYROFOAM(TM) brand ROOFMATE(TM) insulation is used in the roof and terrace areas of the Faliro Complex. STYROFOAM(TM) brand WALLMATE(TM) insulation is used for the cavity walls in the Faliro Complex and to efficiently warm / cool buildings, reception offices, changing rooms and gyms within the Sports Pavilion and Volleyball Center. Dow is an official sponsor of USA Cycling team.

Turin 2006 Winter Games

From 2006-present, Dow is an official sponsor for USA Luge and USA Speedskating. Additionally, Dow becomes the official sponsor of the Chinese National Badminton Team (through 2008). STYROFOAM(TM) brand Insulation used in the speed skating venues as well as DOWEX(R) Ion exchange technology.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Games

Dow becomes the official supplier of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Dow is also the official sponsor of Canadian Sliding Sports, including Canadian bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge. Dow's STYROFOAM(TM) brand products are found in the construction of many Olympic buildings, including: Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center, Richmond Olympic Oval, Olympic Village Vancouver, UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Center, Whistler Sliding Center and Whistler Olympic Park. Each building is LEED certified or targeting some level of LEED certification through the Canada Green Building Council.

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.

(R)TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow

SOURCE: Dow Chemical Company

The Dow Chemical Company 
Bob Plishka 
+1 989 638-2288 
bplishka@dow.com

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