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We had been told not to worry, that Russia's oppressive new laws that make it illegal for citizens or tourists to spread homosexual "propaganda" in the country wouldn't impact next year's Sochi Winter Olympics. There would be leniency during the Games, we were told.
But there are now fresh reports suggesting that Olympic athletes will not be granted any form of official leniency from the law.
The Huffington Post reports that Vitaly Milonov, who co-wrote the controversial bill, has stated there is no chance for Olympic leniency, saying the law is on the books and can't be temporarily set aside.But there are now fresh reports suggesting that Olympic athletes will not be granted any form of official leniency from the law.
In an interview with Russian news agency Interfax, Milonov says:
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.Despite this new revelation, there is still no significant momentum for Canada to boycott or otherwise protest the Sochi Games.
[ Related: NDP wants tougher stance on Russia, but no Sochi boycott ]
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) told Yahoo! Canada News on Wednesday that the revelation has not changed their position.
"Playing sports is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation," reads a statement attributed to COC communications director Dimitri Soudas.
"Our aim is to showcase athletes in ways highlighting Canada’s values and pride. We believe in the power of sport uniting individuals of all races, genders and sexual orientation. We oppose discrimination of any kind.
"Our main focus is the preparation and performance of Canada’s athletes at the 2014 Games."
The COC has adamantly stuck to this message since Russia passed its law in June, making it illegal to promote or spread homosexual "propaganda."
And the International Olympic Committee has similarly said they have received assurances that athletes and others who travel to Russia for the Olympics will be safe from punishment under the law.
[ More Brew: Vancouver bars join Russian vodka boycott ]
That might be so, because it would be sour press for the country to have Olympic athletes shackled on an international stage. So the Olympic Village is safe, but can the same be said for visitors and tourists on the streets of Sochi? It would take one police officer with an agenda to arrest a tourist and launch an international incident.
Still, there is little that can be done. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said they have raised concerns about the law with their Russian counterparts. And even the NDP, who accused Minister John Baird of failing to put enough pressure on the Russian government, is not pressing for a boycott of the Games.
Mark Tewksbury, an openly gay Canadian Olympic swimming champion, has said the best way to protest is to attend the Games.
“I don’t believe in boycotts,” he told Global News in a recent interview. “The athletes would pay the price, not the host country. I think the best thing is to be present and continue to live your life.”
Former Olympians Kris Burley, who is gay, and Ann Peel similarly objected to a boycott. In a Toronto Star editorial, the pair said a boycott would do nothing to change the law.
The Olympic Games have the power to include because anyone can win at sport, regardless of gender, orientation, race or any other construction of human identity. Gay, straight, bi: if you get cross the finish line first, you win. Sport has been breaking down barriers for decades, but we all have to show up to do it.Clearly, boycotting the Sochi Winter Olympics to protest Russia's anti-gay law isn't going to happen. There is no traction, and there's not much reason. Plus, if we didn't boycott Beijing for all of China's human rights failings, it isn't going to be in the cards this time around.
Still, the loudest and most damning protest has been a Russian vodka boycott. The Russian consulate in Montreal will be the focus of a demonstration next month, for whatever that's worth. We don't have to boycott, but we could stand to shout a little louder.
Or take another tack. If Russia actually is going to set aside its anti-gay laws during the Olympics, why not let them host the Olympics all the time. Like, 365 days a year, every year.
If it's the Olympics every day in Russia, they'll never have the chance to punish citizens and tourists for being gay or supporting gay rights.
Want to know what news is brewing in Canada?
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