IOC 'fully satisfied' over Russia's anti-gay law, says it doesn't violate Olympic charter
The Iceberg will host figure-skating and short-track events at the Sochi Olympics. (Mikhail Mordasov/AFP/Getty Images)
The International Olympic Committee says it is "fully satisfied" with Russia's law banning gay propaganda, saying it doesn't violate the Olympic charter's anti-discrimination clause, reports the Associated Press.
The IOC pronounced Russia ready to host the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, which start Feb. 7.
Russia passed a law this summer outlawing "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors," a law that may apply to any athlete or visitor attending the Sochi Games.
Jean-Claude Killy, the chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission, said the commission deliberated over several days and concluded that "the IOC doesn't have the right to discuss the laws that are in place in the country hosting the games, so unless the charter is violated we are fully satisfied."
"Regarding this law, if people of traditional sexual orientation spread propaganda of non-traditional sex to children, then they will also be held accountable," said Dmitry Kozak, a deputy prime minister in charge of overseeing preparations for the Sochi Olympics. "So there is simply no need to talk about discrimination."
More from the AP:
"If this law doesn't violate the IOC's charter, then the charter is completely meaningless," Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said in a statement. "The safety of millions of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Russians and international travelers is at risk, and by all accounts the IOC has completely neglected its responsibility to Olympic athletes, sponsors and fans from around the world."
