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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sochi 2014: Gay rights protests to target Russia's games | Sochi 2014: Gay rights protests to target Russia's games |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gay rights activists across the world are holding a day of protests against the Russian government, just two days before the Winter Olympics begin in the southern resort of Sochi. | Gay rights activists across the world are holding a day of protests against the Russian government, just two days before the Winter Olympics begin in the southern resort of Sochi. |
| The protests seek to persuade sponsors of the event to speak out over Russia's controversial laws on homosexuality. | The protests seek to persuade sponsors of the event to speak out over Russia's controversial laws on homosexuality. |
| The gay rights protests are expected in 19 cities around the globe. | |
| The Olympic torch is set to arrive in Sochi, having visited 135 cities 122 days after leaving Moscow. | |
| It will spend three days in and around Sochi before arriving in the Olympic stadium to light the Olympic cauldron during Friday's opening ceremony. | |
| Growing disquiet | |
| Activists joining protests planned in cities including London, New York, Paris and St Petersburg want Olympic sponsors such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Samsung and Visa to speak against Russia's new laws on homosexuality. | |
| Last year, Russia banned the promotion of "non-traditional" sexuality - widely seen as an attack on gay rights. | Last year, Russia banned the promotion of "non-traditional" sexuality - widely seen as an attack on gay rights. |
| The law makes providing information on homosexuality to under-18s a crime, punishable by a fine. | The law makes providing information on homosexuality to under-18s a crime, punishable by a fine. |
| Critics say its loose interpretation effectively stops gay rights protests in Russia. | Critics say its loose interpretation effectively stops gay rights protests in Russia. |
| Marie Campbell, a director at the equality campaign group All Out, told the BBC that the new Russian laws went against the spirit of the Olympics. | Marie Campbell, a director at the equality campaign group All Out, told the BBC that the new Russian laws went against the spirit of the Olympics. |
| "All our members, as well as everyone else around the world, want to celebrate the Olympic values of personal strength and endurance and integrity," she said. | "All our members, as well as everyone else around the world, want to celebrate the Olympic values of personal strength and endurance and integrity," she said. |
| "All we are saying is that we can't just ignore the fact that this is happening in Russia where these anti-gay laws are preventing the Olympic values being lived and enjoyed by millions of people." | "All we are saying is that we can't just ignore the fact that this is happening in Russia where these anti-gay laws are preventing the Olympic values being lived and enjoyed by millions of people." |
| Last month, President Vladimir Putin said homosexuals would be welcome in Sochi for the Olympics but added: "Just leave the children in peace." | Last month, President Vladimir Putin said homosexuals would be welcome in Sochi for the Olympics but added: "Just leave the children in peace." |
| "We don't have a ban on non-traditional sexual relations," he said. "We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia." | "We don't have a ban on non-traditional sexual relations," he said. "We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia." |
| Meanwhile, President Putin has arrived in Sochi amid growing disquiet about whether preparations will be complete by Friday. | Meanwhile, President Putin has arrived in Sochi amid growing disquiet about whether preparations will be complete by Friday. |
| Hundreds of visitors arriving this week found that their hotels were unfinished. | Hundreds of visitors arriving this week found that their hotels were unfinished. |
| The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Sochi says that while the venues themselves appear complete, the areas around them still resemble building sites. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Sochi says that while the venues themselves appear complete, the areas around them still resemble building sites. |
| Our correspondent says that what President Putin had hoped would be a showcase event is still proving to be a headache. | Our correspondent says that what President Putin had hoped would be a showcase event is still proving to be a headache. |
| Addressing journalists in Sochi on Tuesday, he insisted that the enormous construction effort to prepare the city for the games had greatly improved the environment. | Addressing journalists in Sochi on Tuesday, he insisted that the enormous construction effort to prepare the city for the games had greatly improved the environment. |
| However, environmentalists have accused the Russian authorities of damaging the area during construction for the games. | However, environmentalists have accused the Russian authorities of damaging the area during construction for the games. |