Russia passes law banning gay 'propaganda'

[Tonitrus]

Hardly a surprise.  The IOC is far more corrupt than probably any government on Earth.

[Syt]

http://news.msn.com/world/ioc-gay-protests-wont-be-tolerated-at-olympics

IOC: Gay protests won't be tolerated at Olympics

The International Olympic Committee says it supports gays and lesbians being allowed to compete in the Olympics but won't tolerate athletes who use the Winter Games as a platform to demonstrate against Russia's anti-gay laws.

In a statement issued Wednesday to MSN News, a spokeswoman said Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter clearly spells out that the Games "are not a place for proactive protests or demonstrations."

That section of the charter, titled "Advertising, Demonstrations, Propaganda," contains a clause that states: "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

It adds: "No form of publicity or propaganda, commercial or otherwise, may appear on persons, on sportswear, accessories or, more generally, on any article of clothing or equipment whatsoever worn or used by the athletes or other participants in the Olympic Games, except for the identification ... of the manufacturer of the article or equipment concerned."

"This rule has been in place for many years and aims to separate sport from politics, honor the context of the Olympic Games, and ensure the peaceful gathering of athletes from over 200 nations, officials and spectators from all kinds of different cultures and backgrounds," the IOC said in its statement. "By its nature, the Olympic Games cannot become a platform for any kind of demonstration and the IOC will not accept any proactive gesture that could harm their spirit and jeopardize their future."

Gay Star News earlier reported the Olympic Committee was threatening to "punish" athletes who fight for gay rights at the Winter Games in Sochi next year.

IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge told MSN News that characterization was misleading.

"Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter is in place to protect the athletes and all participants and make sure the field remains neutral," Tonge said.

'SENSIBLE APPROACH'

The IOC didn't specify what action it would take against athletes, coaches and others who might skirt the rule by, as in examples cited by Gay Star News, wearing rainbow pins or holding hands during the opening and closing ceremonies.

Rule 50 states that any violation "may result in disqualification or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person concerned."

In its statement, the IOC said it would "treat each case individually and take a sensible approach depending on what was said or done."

Russia has recently implemented a law that bans "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors" and imposes fines on those holding gay-pride rallies. The move has prompted some gay-rights supporters to call for a boycott of the Sochi Olympics.

Russian lawmakers say the law doesn't outlaw homosexuality but merely discourages discussion of it among young people, according to The Associated Press.

The IOC said it has "received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games."

[garbon]

Glad to see they are falling into lockstep with Russia.

[sbr]

Hardly a surprise.  The IOC is far more corrupt than probably any government on Earth.

[Neil]

Corrupt or no, is it really surprising that an institution that has snuggled up to the Nazis, the Soviets and worst of all the Red Chinese, would really care about this sort of thing?

[Eddie Teach]

Only Nixon could snuggle up to China.

[merithyn]

I'm not sure that I disagree with the IOC. I mean, if it were a type of propoganda that I disagreed with, I wouldn't want it at the games, either. As a baseline, I think that the Olympics should be as politically free as it can be made.

That being said, I don't know the history of the Olympics with political stuff, either. Has the IOC consistently come down on those pushing their politics, whichever side they came from? What previous actions have been taken?

I find the Russian laws disgusting - and Putin in particularly so - but the point of the Olympics is to give athletes an opportunity to compete regardless of their nations' political leanings. Maybe that's pie-in-the-sky optimism, but it's important to at least try to make it so.

[Tamas]

I'm not sure that I disagree with the IOC. I mean, if it were a type of propoganda that I disagreed with, I wouldn't want it at the games, either. As a baseline, I think that the Olympics should be as politically free as it can be made.

That being said, I don't know the history of the Olympics with political stuff, either. Has the IOC consistently come down on those pushing their politics, whichever side they came from? What previous actions have been taken?

I find the Russian laws disgusting - and Putin in particularly so - but the point of the Olympics is to give athletes an opportunity to compete regardless of their nations' political leanings. Maybe that's pie-in-the-sky optimism, but it's important to at least try to make it so.

Yeah but how could the Olympics be free of propaganda? It is a competition of states and results in sports important for a given state leave a mark in public opinion which is the livelihood of politicians. It is a SOURCE of propaganda itself. Not letting people protest in stuff like this IS a form of propaganda.

[merithyn]

Yeah but how could the Olympics be free of propaganda? It is a competition of states and results in sports important for a given state leave a mark in public opinion which is the livelihood of politicians. It is a SOURCE of propaganda itself. Not letting people protest in stuff like this IS a form of propaganda.

Not if it's held across the board. If they only stop the more controversial, then yes, that's a form of propoganda. If, however, the rule is enforced for everyone, then it at least offers a more neutral setting.

There are people involved - very powerful people - so it won't be perfect. But I think striving for perfection isn't a bad thing. It is the Olympics, after all.

And I say this mostly because I remember seeing news reel footage of Jesse Owens in Berlin in 1935. Not once did he try to say or do anything political. He was the epitomy of class and decorum, and in doing so made his point far better than any amount of "show" could have.

[Barrister]

That being said, I don't know the history of the Olympics with political stuff, either. Has the IOC consistently come down on those pushing their politics, whichever side they came from? What previous actions have been taken?

These guys were kicked out of the olympics after this particular display of political activism in 1968.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute

[merithyn]

That being said, I don't know the history of the Olympics with political stuff, either. Has the IOC consistently come down on those pushing their politics, whichever side they came from? What previous actions have been taken?

These guys were kicked out of the olympics after this particular display of political activism in 1968.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute

Which means that the rules were upheld then.

[garbon]

I think the issue for me personally, Mer, is that in this case it means that their rules align perfectly with what is causing the controversy in the first place, Russia's laws. In then gives the appearance of happy collaboration.

Also I wonder what actions they will take as examples of protesting. Would it cover everything that makes you fall afoul of Russia's laws?

[derspiess]

They'll know it when they see it.

[Tamas]

I think the issue for me personally, Mer, is that in this case it means that their rules align perfectly with what is causing the controversy in the first place, Russia's laws. In then gives the appearance of happy collaboration.

Also I wonder what actions they will take as examples of protesting. Would it cover everything that makes you fall afoul of Russia's laws?

I agree. HOWEVER, there are arab countries participating in the Olympics who stone adulterers. Nobody protests.

[Berkut]

That being said, I don't know the history of the Olympics with political stuff, either. Has the IOC consistently come down on those pushing their politics, whichever side they came from? What previous actions have been taken?

These guys were kicked out of the olympics after this particular display of political activism in 1968.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute

Which means that the rules were upheld then.

Indeed.

That is a case where those making the protest did so understanding the consequences, and in fact that made the protest that much more meaningful.

I have no problem with the IOC saying protests like this are not allowed. I think it is approriate for them to do their best to keep the focus of the games on the games and the athletes, rather than political activity.

And I think they should protest anyway.