Tag Archives: Olympics

Beating out fellow finalists Madrid and Istanbul, the IOC today announced that Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tokyo’s bid came in at $5 billion to $6 billion, compared to $19 billion pledged by Istanbul, said Ed Hula, editor and founder of aroundtherings.com, which covers the business and politics of the Olympic movement. But Tokyo’s government has already amassed …

Pink News has the story: A decree banning demonstrations and rallies has been signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and will take place over the duration of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The decree, signed today will block all demonstrations and rallies from taking place, will take effect for two and a half months covering the games, reports the Associated …

Athlete Ally has launched a petition campaign which demands that the International Olympic Committee chose Madrid as the host city of the 2020 Summer Games. Via press release: On September 7 the IOC will choose the host city for the 2020 Olympic Games. Of the three finalists, Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul, one city shines above as LGBT friendly. And only …

Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko says that despite the “assurances” claimed by the International Olympic Committee, Russia will indeed arrest any athlete or fan who violates their ban on “homosexual propaganda.” Via Russia’s state news agency: The IOC told R-Sport Friday it “has received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect …

According to a story posted today by the BBC’s Russian-language service, the co-sponsor of Russia’s “homosexual propaganda” bill says that the government does not have the power to selectively suspend enforcement during the Sochi Olympics, as they promised they would to the International Olympic Committee last week. Here’s a brief translation by JMG reader Peter: St. Petersburg legislator Vitaly Milonov …

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: Mere verbal assurances from the Russian government that foreigners will be exempt from their repressive laws are not enough,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin. “The IOC must obtain ironclad written assurance from President Putin. But more importantly, they should be advocating for the safety of all LGBT people in …

According to Russia’s state-owned news agency RIA Novosti, the International Olympic Committee today declared that it has received “assurances from the highest level” of the Russian government that athletes and fans that attend the Sochi Games will not be subject to the national ban on “promoting homosexuality.” “As a sporting organization, what we can do is to continue to work …

“The fact that Russia is arresting my people, and openly hating a minority and violating human rights all over the place is heartbreaking and a travesty of international proportions. I respect the LGBT community full heartedly, but I implore the world not to boycott the Olympic Games because of Russia’s stance on LGBT rights or lack thereof. I beg the …

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From the Spectrum Human Rights Alliance, which advocates for LGBT rights in Eastern Europe, comes a horrifying report: Infamous Russian ultranationalist and former skin head, Maxim Martsinkevich, known under the nickname “Cleaver” (or “Tesak” in Russian) spearheaded a country wide campaign against LGBT teens using a popular social network VK.com to lure unsuspected victims through personal ads. Mr. Martsinkevich’s numerous …

Via Memeographs.

“Mr. Putin’s campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook. Can we allow this war against human rights to go unanswered? Although Mr. Putin may think he can control his creation, history proves he cannot: his condemnations are permission to commit violence …

A group of LGBT Russians living in the United States is calling for a boycott of the coming Winter Olympics over Russia’s national ban on “homosexual propaganda.” “LGBT people in Russia are scared, they live in fear, and we want people to be aware of the issue. If they feel strongly about human rights they should boycott the Olympics in …

The New York Times reports: Cheered on by a raucous crowd waving flags and chanting, a team of Iranian wrestlers defeated the United States, 6-1, in an exhibition match staged in New York’s Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday. The match was part of a unified effort by sporting officials from the three nations to save wrestling as an Olympic sport. …

A global coalition of wrestling groups has launched a website and several petitions which urge the International Olympic Committee to reconsider their decision to drop the sport starting with the 2020 Games.  The coalition has vowed to make changes in order to remain an Olympic sport. FILA President Nenad LalovicFILA takes its responsibly very seriously on behalf of all the …

Yesterday the International Olympic Committee announced that wrestling will be dropped as an official sport starting with the 2020 Games.  And you know who’s fault that is?  Gay activists who hate masculinity.   From the Russia-based website R-Sport: Gay rights activists with a vendetta against masculinity are behind plans to cut wrestling from the Olympic program, the coach of a London …

In a move sure to disappoint some gay fans, the International Olympic Committee has voted to drop wrestling as of the 2020 Games.  Among the criteria considered were the sport’s television ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy, global participation, and popularity. “This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “In the …