Olympic rules for protesting against Russia's anti-gay laws clarified

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/18/ioc-sochi-protest-rules-anti-gay-winter-olympics

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made it clear to nations competing in February's Winter Games in Sochi that athletes will be free to speak out against Russia's controversial anti-gay laws, as long as they do so away from accredited areas.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) said it had received a letter from the IOC clarifying its rule 50, which says "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted". The IOC has been under pressure to clarify its position since Russia introduced the new laws, which prohibit the "promotion" of homosexuality to under 18s, earlier this year.

This prompted calls for a boycott of the Games from some, including the actor Stephen Fry, and led others to condemn the new laws. The BOA, which expects to send up to 55 athletes to the Winter Olympics, said it had received a letter from the IOC this week, after last week's executive committee meeting, clarifying the rules.

The IOC has also said that Sochi organisers will provide "protest zones", as in Beijing, where demonstrations would be permitted. Human rights groups are concerned not only about the anti-gay laws but a wider chilling effect on freedom of speech under Vladimir Putin. The BOA said it would not stand in the way of any athletes who wanted to speak out on gay rights or any other issue, as long as they comply with the Olympic charter.

"It's about finding a balance across three priorities: the requirement we comply with the Olympic charter, that we understand the laws of the country we're visiting, even if we don't agree with them, and recognising that we believe an Olympic team should reflect the values of the country they represent," said a spokesman. "In our case that means a commitment to freedom of expression. You won't find us taking a strong stance against any athlete exercising their right to freedom of speech."

This week the US President, Barack Obama, named former tennis player Billie Jean-King as one of two openly gay ambassadors to represent the US at the opening and closing ceremonies, in what was widely seen as a direct challenge to Putin's new laws. The British government has said that the sports minister Helen Grant, who is also equalities minister, will attend on its behalf.

The Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, is also expected to attend. Thomas Bach, the new IOC president, said when he was elected in September that the organisation would have to take a realistic approach to the overlap between sport and politics.

IOC insiders confirmed that athletes would be free to speak openly in non-accredited areas and at press conferences, insisting that the policy had not changed from previous Games. However, the fact that it has emphasised the point before the Sochi Olympics, the most expensive winter Games in history at $50m, is seen as significant.

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