Despite assurances from the International Olympic Committee that LGBT athletes and tourists will not be charged under Russia's anti-gay propaganda laws during the Sochi Winter Games, Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko said all of his country's laws will be enforced.
"No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable," Mutko explained.
"As a sportsman, he should respect the law of a country," Mutko added. "Come (to Sochi), but don't get young people involved, don't make propaganda. This is what we are talking about."
The vague law, however, means that even wearing a rainbow flag pin, or saying a little too loudly that being gay is okay, could lead to a run-in with the law.
On Monday, Vitaly Milonov, the man who helped pass the bill in the Russian parliament, also insisted gays would not get a free pass at the Games.
He said: "I haven't heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And if a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn't have the authority."
These statements will certainly increase calls by several groups to boycott the Olympics. But, as others have suggested, it may be a good thing to see Russia arresting athletes during one of the most watched televised sporting events in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment