Russia's 2014 Winter Olympics faces calls for boycott

[Mr.Kobayashi]

…over its recently passed anti-gay laws. CNN gives the gist of a vague at best law that has Olympians and human rights activists alike scratching their chins over its application;

The anti-gay propaganda law, passed overwhelmingly in parliament and signed off by Putin, bans the public discussion of gay rights and relationships anywhere children might hear it. Those found in breach of it can be fined and, if they are foreign, deported.

Critics say the law is so vaguely defined that it can be used to prosecute someone just for wearing a rainbow T-shirt or holding hands with someone of the same sex in public. Amnesty International has condemned it as an “affront to freedom of expression and an attack on minority rights.”

Why Russia’s Sochi Olympics are now a battleground for gay rights | CNN

A 320,000 signature petition protesting the Russian law has been passed to the IOC and Stephen Fry has composed an open letter to British PM Cameron and the IOC calling for a boycott and comparing the situation to Nazi Germany’s hosting;

The Olympic movement at that time paid precisely no attention to this evil and proceeded with the notorious Berlin Olympiad, which provided a stage for a gleeful Führer and only increased his status at home and abroad. It gave him confidence. All historians are agreed on that. What he did with that confidence we all know.

Putin is eerily repeating this insane crime, only this time against LGBT Russians. Beatings, murders and humiliations are ignored by the police. Any defence or sane discussion of homosexuality is against the law. Any statement, for example, that Tchaikovsky was gay and that his art and life reflects this sexuality and are an inspiration to other gay artists would be punishable by imprisonment.
…
An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillyhammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.

An Open Letter to David Cameron and the IOC - Official site of Stephen Fry

What do you make of the situation? Would you support a boycott of next year’s games over Russia’s draconian scapegoating or is it best to ignore it and compete regardless?

[aNewLeaf]

Amnesty International has condemned it as an “affront to freedom of expression and an attack on minority rights.”

Russia has never had freedom of expression, or minority rights before- what’s different now?

[astorian]

People can and will protest any way they like… but in what possible way is Russia less free now than it was in 1980, when British athletes happily competed at the Moscow Olympics?

[Smapti]

@astorian

People can and will protest any way they like… but in what possible way is Russia less free now than it was in 1980, when British athletes happily competed at the Moscow Olympics?

For that matter, in what way is Russia less free now than Germany was in 1936, when British athletes happily competed at the Berlin Olympics?

[Simplicio]

@Smapti

For that matter, in what way is Russia less free now than Germany was in 1936, when British athletes happily competed at the Berlin Olympics?

I suspect that all of the atheletes that attended the 1936 games will effectively boycott the 2014 games.

[Mahaloth]

@Mr.Kobayashi

1. What do you make of the situation? 2. Would you support a boycott of next year’s games over Russia’s draconian scapegoating or is it best to ignore it and compete regardless?

1. Nothing much will come of it, athletes will attend, the Olympics will go on as planned, and life will go on.

2. I wouldn’t support a boycott, though I don’t support boycotting the Olympics pretty much anywhere. It’s a diverse and sometimes weird world and countries that are heavily involved in the Olympics should get a chance to host it, not matter their racists or other prejudice ideas. I fully, fully supported China getting the Olympics despite their own human rights records, which I would imagine include very poor treatment of any outspoken gay community.

Now that I think of it, I’m not sure I’d boycott the Olympics anywhere, especially if the country is one that regularly sends athletes to it.

[Zakalwe]

@Mahaloth

1. Nothing much will come of it, athletes will attend, the Olympics will go on as planned, and life will go on.

2. I wouldn’t support a boycott, though I don’t support boycotting the Olympics pretty much anywhere. It’s a diverse and sometimes weird world and countries that are heavily involved in the Olympics should get a chance to host it, not matter their racists or other prejudice ideas. I fully, fully supported China getting the Olympics despite their own human rights records, which I would imagine include very poor treatment of any outspoken gay community.

Now that I think of it, I’m not sure I’d boycott the Olympics anywhere, especially if the country is one that regularly sends athletes to it.

However, don’t you think it would also be incumbent on the host country to ensure that the athletes are free to compete without worrying about being arrested for speech/actions that don’t violate the Olympic charter? Obviously, the IOC seems to feel this way. In other words, if (by some miracle or corrupt process), Saudi Arabia were to host an Olympic event, shouldn’t female athletes get to participate without worrying about the religious police?

[Mahaloth]

@Zakalwe

However, don’t you think it would also be incumbent on the host country to ensure that the athletes are free to compete without worrying about being arrested for speech/actions that don’t violate the Olympic charter? Obviously, the IOC seems to feel this way. In other words, if (by some miracle or corrupt process), Saudi Arabia were to host an Olympic event, shouldn’t female athletes get to participate without worrying about the religious police?

Yes.

[Bozuit]

@Smapti

For that matter, in what way is Russia less free now than Germany was in 1936, when British athletes happily competed at the Berlin Olympics?

@astorian

People can and will protest any way they like… but in what possible way is Russia less free now than it was in 1980, when British athletes happily competed at the Moscow Olympics?

In what way does it matter?

[stpauler]

I don’t see Russia backing down.

I do think that if enough pressure is pushed on the advertisers (aka “Official Sponsors”) that Russia’s position would be moot and that it would switch locations in order to keep it a worthwhile financial endeavor. The athletes would essentially become the pawns in the game.

[aNewLeaf]

In other words, if (by some miracle or corrupt process), Saudi Arabia were to host an Olympic event, shouldn’t female athletes get to participate without worrying about the religious police?

Impossible.

[Zakalwe]

@aNewLeaf

Impossible.

What part of “miracle” or “corrupt process” do you not understand? Many people said it would be impossible to have a World Cup in the Qatar due to the overwhelming heat, but…

[Ethilrist]

@Smapti

For that matter, in what way is Russia less free now than Germany was in 1936, when British athletes happily competed at the Berlin Olympics?

If one of those British athletes happens to have a rainbow pin on his gym bag, or tattoed on his arm, he faces arrest, a fine, and deportation.

[Inner_Stickler]

@astorian

People can and will protest any way they like… but in what possible way is Russia less free now than it was in 1980, when British athletes happily competed at the Moscow Olympics?

@Smapti

For that matter, in what way is Russia less free now than Germany was in 1936, when British athletes happily competed at the Berlin Olympics?

So we shouldn’t protest human rights violations because in the past people didn’t always protest human rights violations?

Russia deserves the global community equivalent of a swirly until they get their shit together and their heads out of their asses.

[Freddy_the_Pig]

Surely the more constructive solution (as opposed to boycotting) is to have athletes go to the games, bring rainbow logos, speak in favor of gay rights, and dare Russia to do anything about it. (Hint: They won’t.)

[Inner_Stickler]

Is that constructive? Or would that just let everyone have their fun games while native gay russians continue to be harassed and attacked in the background?

[Simplicio]

@Freddy_the_Pig

Surely the more constructive solution (as opposed to boycotting) is to have athletes go to the games, bring rainbow logos, speak in favor of gay rights, and dare Russia to do anything about it. (Hint: They won’t.)

What’s the gay equivalent of giving the “black power” salute on the medal podium?

[Freddy_the_Pig]

@Inner_Stickler

Is that constructive? Or would that just let everyone have their fun games while native gay russians continue to be harassed and attacked in the background?

It at least gets the message heard, in a way that will be difficult to impossible for the Putin government to censor or spin. Yes, a boycott will also get the message heard, but in a way that will infuriate the average Russian, penalize blameless athletes, and be spun by Putin as an example of generic Western hatred of Russia.

[Troy_McClure_SF]

@Freddy_the_Pig

be spun by Putin as an example of generic Western hatred of Russia.

Do we care? Are we caring about that?

[Lamar_Mundane]

@Simplicio

What’s the gay equivalent of giving the “black power” salute on the medal podium?

Men’s figure skating.