Should players, sports organizations, or the whole COC boycott the Sochi Olympics?

[Coach]

I agree it would be a sham from a Canadian perspective. I disagree that the nations that ended up winning would hold it in that regard. I think we're just going to have to drop this point and agree to disagree. Again, what if the Canadians were in it, Russia won gold and beat Belarus, Germany, Switzerland and the US along the way and Canada wasn't even in the medal round? Whats the difference? Canada would be an after thought. Does Sweden care that Canada was terrible in 06? No.

And when I say Sweden, I don't mean the team, I mean the people in the country.

I have no doubt that the Russian TEAM, would want to compete against Canada. I also have no doubt that even if they didn't, them and all of Russia would celebrate the gold just the same. We as Canadians might give it to them in a "yea of course you won, the best eam wasn't there," but I would expect nothing but a waving gold medal in return. Winning is winning. If people don't want to compete that's their problem. No one's to say how the tournament would have played out with them in it, because it doesn't matter. they weren't.

And to the issue at hand, staying out of the Olympics because of policies in Russia will do dick all to change any ideologies in the country and may even enforce them. "Ohh we don't have the same rules as Canada so they cried and didn't want to play, screw em" I think would be the overall Russia/European view.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I agree it would be a sham from a Canadian perspective. I disagree that the nations that ended up winning would hold it in that regard. I think we're just going to have to drop this point and agree to disagree. Again, what if the Canadians were in it, Russia won gold and beat Belarus, Germany, Switzerland and the US along the way and Canada wasn't even in the medal round? Whats the difference? Canada would be an after thought. Does Sweden care that Canada was terrible in 06? No.

What's the difference? Umm, the fact that a team was entered and competed. A team struggling is a whole hell of a lot different than a team not even being entered. Does Canada care that Tommy Salo lost his mind for a second against Belarus? Not really, but that's part of sports. Sometimes games or tournaments have unexpected results, but the point is that the games actually take place. When you remove a team that is clearly a contender the entire tournament is surrounded by question marks.

And it wouldn't just be a sham from a Canadian perspective, it would be a sham from any intelligent perspective. Just as any medals won in 1980 should be viewed as questionable when so many top contenders weren't present (setting aside the whole doping issue) any rational person would have to consider the fact that the event didn't feature the top competition.

To your edit, I don't have any expectation that a boycott would change any ideologies, that's not my goal. My goal is to not sanction or support anything to do with that backwater country.

[Coach]

Look valo, we're just not going to agree here. if Russia had sat out in 2010 it wouldn't have made a lick of difference to me as a fan of Canada. Maybe during people would have been talking about it (and I guess maybe thats the point you and others are going for here) but once all is said and done one team has the gold, and that's all anyone in the Olympics really cares about.

I really do think something needs to be done about the policy and many other human rights issues world wide. I just don't think sitting out the Olympics is going affect that at all and would rather see the efforts put towards something else.

I think more impactful would be to see an actual gay athete win something and then hold a sign on the podium that said "I'm gay and am faster/stronger/whatever than you" or something along those lines, maybe with a little more thought. Russia's actions that followed would be the real eye openers in my opinion.

[nik-]

Beating the piss out of Russia felt almost just as good to me as beating the US in the final game.

[Itse]

http://www.advocate.com/politics/201...ussian-antigay

“The IOC has a clear rule laid out in the Olympic Charter, which states that the venues of the Olympic Games are not a place for proactive political or religious demonstration,” an IOC spokeswoman told Gay Star News. “This rule has been in place for many years and applied when necessary.
According to the cited rule, athletes found in violation could face “disqualification or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person concerned.”
This means any athlete who is seen holding hands with a member of the same sex or wearing a rainbow pin at any point during the games in Sochi would not only face potential fines, jail time, and deportation under Russian law but also punishment from the International Olympic Committee.

[Coach]

^^ Wouldn't boycotting also count as "proactive political or religious demonstration"?

Could they carry over punishments and or sanctions for boycotting to future games?

Man this law is messed up.

[You Need a Thneed]

I was thinking that Russia actually enforcing the law would break the IOC's rules.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I was thinking that Russia actually enforcing the law would break the IOC's rules.

That's an interesting point as well, but technically this is the law in their country. It would be like a Dutch athlete soliciting sex duing the '10 Games or something. Even though it's not illegal in their country, you're in ours and it's illegal here. There would have to be some form of repercussions right?

[Phaneufenstein]

Did anyone actually read what the new law is?

It criminalizes homosexual/bi/transgender propaganda among under-18 individuals.
This new bill is an amendment to an existing law called "Protection of children from information that is harmful to their health or development."

Russia is a deeply religious country, I'm not surprised to see this at all.
While not exactly a liberal view on things, I don't think it's as bad as people are painting it here to be.

It's punishable by fines of up to $150.00 for individual offenses, and up to $3500 for individuals using mass media/social media.

Being gay is not illegal in Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia

[Senator Clay Davis]

Being gay, in private, is not illegal in Russia. Being gay in public is now in effect illegal as the complete vagueness of the law doesn't define propaganda at all. So if a man and his partner hold hands in public, they are subject to punishment under this law because the obviously draconian Russian government (see: P*ssy Riot) will punish as they see fit. Some Dutch tourists were arrested for talking to some people about gay rights.

Russia, in effect, is getting closer to a country like Saudi Arabia rather than countries in the western world.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Did anyone actually read what the new law is?

It criminalizes homosexual/bi/transgender propaganda among under-18 individuals.
This new bill is an amendment to an existing law called "Protection of children from information that is harmful to their health or development."

Russia is a deeply religious country, I'm not surprised to see this at all.
While not exactly a liberal view on things, I don't think it's as bad as people are painting it here to be.

It's punishable by fines of up to $150.00 for individual offenses, and up to $3500 for individuals using mass media/social media.

Being gay is not illegal in Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia

Yeah, it's a real pleasant little situation they've got going over there

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/photo...e-needs-to-see

[Phaneufenstein]

Pride parades are illegal there, hence police involvement.

I don't think I've seen one openly gay couple holding hands in Canada, unless you go to a place like Twisted Element or a function like a parade.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Pride parades are illegal there, hence police involvement.

I don't think I've seen one openly gay couple holding hands in Canada, unless you go to a place like Twisted Element or a function like a parade.

You need to get out more.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

You need to get out more.

Where do you get out to?

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Where do you get out to?

Outside is a start.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It doesn't matter whether you've seen it or not, the thing is if you do see it happen in public the couple involved aren't going to get arrested for doing it. Gotta love that whole freedom thing, its nice to be able to do as you'd please and not face persecution for it. Russia and countries based of Sharia Law, well, glad I don't live there.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Did anyone actually read what the new law is?

It criminalizes homosexual/bi/transgender propaganda among under-18 individuals.
This new bill is an amendment to an existing law called "Protection of children from information that is harmful to their health or development."

Russia is a deeply religious country, I'm not surprised to see this at all.
While not exactly a liberal view on things, I don't think it's as bad as people are painting it here to be.

It's punishable by fines of up to $150.00 for individual offenses, and up to $3500 for individuals using mass media/social media.

Being gay is not illegal in Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia

And what constitutes propaganda?

[Phaneufenstein]

nice comparison...

in Sharia law countries you'd probably be legally executed for being gay.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Pride parades are illegal there, hence police involvement.

I don't think I've seen one openly gay couple holding hands in Canada, unless you go to a place like Twisted Element or a function like a parade.

And you find this acceptable?

Let's be clear, this isn't a case of holding a parade without a permit being illegal, this is a case of any open display of homosexuality being met with state condoned, delivered and sanctioned violence.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by nik-

And what constitutes propaganda?

I don't know, I'm just trying to gain more knowledge on the actual law...