We have received some oral and written assurances about the fact the Russian Federation will respect the Olympic charter and no negative effect will occur for people attending in or participating in the Games. But one should not forget that we are staging the games in a sovereign state, and the IOC cannot be expected to have an influence on the sovereign affairs of a country.”
— Jacques Rogge, president of International Olympic Committee, offering an update on Sochi 2014 with Washington Post
yaoming
But he does have the power to have the Olympics in a non-bigoted. I’m surprised that’s not in the Olympic charter – that the host country has to agree not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sexuality, etc. you either do it our (non-discriminatory) way, or we take the Olympics elsewhere. Maybe it does say that and Russia just waited until it was too late to spring their nasty laws.
Cam
Nobody claimed he does have power over the Russian Laws.
But he DOES have power over the Olympic Committee. The fact that the IOC told any gay athletes that they would be disqualified and sent home simply for holding hands etc… shows that this man is a bigot.
Joe Blitzen
And yet the IOC banned South African athletes for decades unless apartheid was ended.
Brian
Jacques Rogge is a disgrace. The Sochi Olympics should be boycotted.
PatriciaDrummer
like Beverly replied I am blown away that you can make $7374 in 4 weeks on the computer. pop over here… just.as/Enum2m
balehead
“Just the bribes”….
andy_d
@Brian: Not boycotted, MOVED! There are plenty of venues of recently past winter olympics that can be used.
Steve
If the Olympic committee decides to NOT send any committee members or representatives to the games and yet supports the games to proceed and be completed so that every athlete can compete and be awarded for their achievements, this will say much more than any boycott. They can also issue a simple statement that cites their discomfort being in a Country that promotes abuses against their own population.
Let the games continue. Don’t spoil the fun for the athletes.
Cam
@Steve:
You should be embarrassed by your comments. According to you, nobody should do anything because THAT will say so much more than any boycott, except the IOC COULD put out a statement that says they are not totally comfortable.
So what you are stating is that Russia should be rewarded for it’s behavior, by not only having the Olympics, but also by pretty much ignoring the situation.
I guess that gays should also donate money to Bob Jones University and take vacations in Jamaica? Because you know…that will say SO much more. (Eye Roll).