UN, August 23 (RIA Novosti) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is “comforted” with Russia’s reassurances that there will be “no discrimination” against people attending next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, the committee’s president said Friday.
“We have received strong oral but also written reassurances that there will be no discrimination for the people who will attend the games in Sochi,” IOC president Jacques Rogge told a news conference upon his visit to the UN headquarters in New York.
“We are being comforted by the fact that the Russian federation agrees to respect the Olympic charter,” he added.
In June, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” toward minors. The legislation's vague wording may enable individuals to be implicated for even telling children that gay people exist.
Confusion has reigned internationally over how Russia would enforce the law during the February 7 to 21 Olympics. Violators face fines of up to $30,000, while foreigners face deportation.
