Protest in press room not podium, athletes advised
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Athletes at next month’s Sochi Winter Olympics may be punished for making statements on the podium against Russia’s anti-gay law or human rights record but can do so at news conferences without fear of sanction, the IOC said.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), explained that under the Games charter political protests and demonstrations at venues are not allowed.
“It is very clear the Games cannot be used as a stage for political demonstrations however good the cause may be,” Bach told a media conference call yesterday.
“The IOC will take, if necessary, individual decisions based on individual cases. It is also clear on the other hand the athletes enjoy freedom of speech so if in a press conference they wanted to make a political statement they are absolutely free to do so.”
Asked whether he was urging athletes to make their point at news conferences rather than the medals podium, Bach said: “If you are drawing this conclusion I would not say anything against it.”
Russia has caused considerable controversy with a recent anti-gay propaganda law that critics say curbs the rights of homosexuals in the country.
In a clear message to Moscow, US President Barack Obama included three openly gay athletes in his official Olympic delegation and Britain said it would send a minister responsible for its same-sex marriage laws.
Moscow expects 6,000 athletes from 85 countries and hundreds of thousands of sports fans in Sochi.
President Vladimir Putin has said homosexuals will not be discriminated against during the February 7-23 Games but many athletes have said they will make their opposition known during the Olympics in the Russian Black Sea resort.
The buildup to the first Russian Winter Olympics has been rocky, with security concerns heightened following bomb attacks in Volgograd last month.
“An IOC delegation is already in Sochi and of course in the meetings security matters are addressed,” Bach said.
“We have full confidence in the host country. Russia and Russian services are working closely with international services to ensure all participants and visitors can feel safe and secure.”
Bach also defended Sochi’s US$50 billion price tag for what will arguably become the most expensive summer or winter Olympics staged.
Senior IOC members have criticized the cost saying it was scaring off possible future hosts. Stockholm dropped out of the race for the 2022 Games two weeks ago due to cost concerns while Switzerland and Germany ended plans to bid.
“Sochi was elected seven years ago with a project which gave Russia a winter sport center which Russia did not have after the dissolution of the USSR,” Bach said.
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