WASHINGTON, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – Scathing comments from gay and human rights activists began spewing out across the Internet and social media outlets Thursday, shortly after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russia’s controversial law banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” to minors does not violate the anti-discrimination guarantees in the Olympic charter.
“If this law doesn’t violate the IOC’s charter, then the charter is completely meaningless,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization which advocates on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, in a statement.
The Kremlin maintains the new law is aimed at protecting children and does not prevent adults from making their own choices, but critics claim the legislation is part of a much wider crackdown on homosexuality in Russia.
Many have expressed concern about what impact the law might have on LGBT athletes and spectators at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
“The safety of millions of LGBT 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. The IOC and its new president, Thomas Bach, are putting the good reputation of the Olympic Games and its corporate sponsors in jeopardy,” Griffin said.
#IOC backs off on #Russian anti-gay law http://t.co/JXCw4gffXJ via @washingtonpost The #olympics has become an agent to oppression. #NOH8
— Yob Benami (@smokieyob420) September 26, 2013
“The Olympics has become an agent to oppression,” said one message posted on Twitter. Another said the IOC had “washed its hands” on Russia.
IOC washes its hands on Russia http://t.co/9ouXaAnr8r via @blackink12
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) September 26, 2013
A third posting read, “Meanwhile in Russia: Gay rights activists arrested over Sochi 2014 protest,” with a link to a story about gay protesters being arrested in Sochi this week.
Meanwhile in Russia: Gay rights activists arrested over Sochi 2014 protest - http://t.co/uhovV3IjjE
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) September 26, 2013
Following a tenth and final inspection of Sochi this week, the IOC proclaimed the law in question does not violate the Olympic discrimination clause.
"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," said Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission, at a Thursday press conference in Sochi, where the games will begin on Feb. 7, 2014.
Sochi passed the inspection with flying colors, getting a glowing review from Killy.
"Our impression is unanimous, everything is very impressive," Killy said.
