So .. the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi is under way. Will gay athletes get in trouble talking about gay rights? (In July 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill banning the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors”. ‘Propaganda’ being open to interpretation by police and vigilante citizens, of course, and encouraging violence against gay people). Assurances have been given by Russian officials that the law will not be enforced on athletes at the Games.
And what does the Olympic Charter have to say anyway? Well, nothing specific about sexual orientation (this falls under the phrase ‘other discrimination’ in Principle 6 of the Charter). It’s just disappointing that the International Olympic Committee did not take a stronger position, or made much about it publicly (at least not that I’m aware of).
