Should players, sports organizations, or the whole COC boycott the Sochi Olympics? - Page 9 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Itse · 08-09-2013, 06:37 AM

I think it's also important to be aware that anti-LGBT laws are the least of LGBT problems in Russia.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/08...russia-so-far/

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/07...se-social.html

Historically speaking, this is about 2-3 steps away from concentration camps.

(Which the Greek already have, by the way. http://www.2ndcouncilhouse.co.uk/blo...-trans-people/ . Just missing the gas chambers.)

valo403 · 08-09-2013, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

You're not fixing the human rights issue though. You're just making a statement at the cost of your athletes. A statement by a small country to a country who is about as defiant as can be. Sorry but imo, the life long dedication of our athletes trumps giving Russia a fruitless metaphorical middle finger.

I said earlier that I'm fine with the IOC stripping the games from Russia (Fifa should follow) and they probably should have never been awarded them in the first place. I'd also be fine with participating in a mass boycott in which these games would devastate the Russian economy due to low participation and tourism but neither of those are the situation.

Also acting like this is "just sports" is a pretty dumb way of looking at it when these athletes have literally devoted their entire lives to this opportunity.

It's relative, in comparison to basic human rights yes it is "just sports". And I say that as someone who knows people who are definitely in contention to be on the Olympic team.

chemgear · 08-09-2013, 09:01 AM

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/ioc-pre...-law-1.1403935

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko insisted Thursday that Olympic athletes would have to respect the laws of the country during the Sochi Games. On Friday, he said there was no way Russia would back down under political pressure.

Referring to Western criticism, Mutko was quoted as saying by Interfax: "I wouldn't call the pressure light. Russia must understand that the stronger we are, the more other people aren't going to like it. We have a unique country."

"We don't have to be afraid of threats to boycott the Olympic Games," Mutko said. "All sensible people understand that sports demand independence, that it is inadmissible that politics intervene."

GGG · 08-09-2013, 09:42 AM

I think Russia's human rights record on all issues is pretty terrible. Political dissidents are locked up, reporters etc. Prior to this law being made public there was no push to boycott. So why do these abuses, the majority of which were ongoing before the law was made, cause a tipping point at which boycotting would be considered.

So I am against a Country led boycott but would support an athlete led boycott if they choose to make that sacrifice. It is not my decision to make. I do think a better thing to do would be to ensure that Canada olympic Comittee votes for future sites are based on human rights even if that is politically costly.

Did Canada vote for Sochi or China to host the games? If so I am disappointed, it is at the selection level that Canada and other European nations can force change instead of securing votes for their next bid.

polak · 08-09-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valo403

It's relative, in comparison to basic human rights yes it is "just sports". And I say that as someone who knows people who are definitely in contention to be on the Olympic team.

If there was a chance that this would actually make a difference, then I'd agree but there's such a small chance of that happening (I'd say non-existent imo) that it's not the same.

Again, it'd just be a fruitless statement.

valo403 · 08-09-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

If there was a chance that this would actually make a difference, then I'd agree but there's such a small chance of that happening (I'd say non-existent imo) that it's not the same.

Again, it'd just be a fruitless statement.

Actually, it'd be full of fruits

Flash Walken · 08-09-2013, 12:51 PM

"Well it won't make a difference anyway..." I think is a cowardly and weak moral shelter to hide behind.

Things that are worth doing are usually hard.

"Just tone it down for 2 weeks." <--- Or you will be arrested and imprisoned.

The international shame is strong on this one.

undercoverbrother · 08-09-2013, 12:53 PM

Is any country boycotting the IAAF World Championship?

jayswin · 08-09-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Is any country boycotting the IAAF World Championship?

I don't know, what is it?

jayswin · 08-09-2013, 12:56 PM

CaptainCrunch and Polak's attitude is exactly what Russia wants, and is banking on.

Itse · 08-09-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGG

I think Russia's human rights record on all issues is pretty terrible. Political dissidents are locked up, reporters etc. Prior to this law being made public there was no push to boycott. So why do these abuses, the majority of which were ongoing before the law was made, cause a tipping point at which boycotting would be considered.

People are funny?

More seriously, that's just how tipping points work. You can never predict exactly where it's going to be or even explain afterwards why it was where it was. But you can tell when it was crossed.

At that point people either
a) feel like a line has been crossed and they just won't be silent or
b) feel like enough people share their gripe that they feel comfortable voicing it.

Often both at the same time.

undercoverbrother · 08-09-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

I don't know, what is it?

Track and Field World Championship, in Moscow now.

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaa...-championships

jayswin · 08-09-2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Track and Field World Championship, in Moscow now.

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaa...-championships

Oh, probably not. Doesn't seem like a huge international event, though. I doubt you'd find very many Canadians that even knew this was on right now.

undercoverbrother · 08-09-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

Oh, probably not. Doesn't seem like a huge international event, though. I doubt you'd find very many Canadians that even knew this was on right now.

I agree it is not big in Canada, but on a world stage it is big.

polak · 08-09-2013, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

CaptainCrunch and Polak's attitude is exactly what Russia wants, and is banking on.

Caring about our athletes?

Whoops.

valo403 · 08-09-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polak

Valuing sports over human rights?

Whoops.

fyp

There are plenty of decent arguments on both sides of the boycott issue. The athletes worked hard isn't one of them. The ability to compete in a sporting event is an incredibly small thing in the grand scheme of things.

mikey_the_redneck · 08-09-2013, 04:23 PM

I applaud Russia for banning gay propaganda in public. It is the will of their people who hold traditional family values. Taking your kids to a gay parade where grown men prance around in S&M outfits is child abuse.

The law does not seem that bad anyways. You guys make is sound like they are putting gays into prison camps.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/col...imperialism-0/

Coach · 08-09-2013, 04:38 PM

polak · 08-09-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valo403

fyp

There are plenty of decent arguments on both sides of the boycott issue. The athletes worked hard isn't one of them. The ability to compete in a sporting event is an incredibly small thing in the grand scheme of things.

I'm done arguing cause you guys simply refuse to acknowledge that a Canadian boycott will accomplish absolutely nothing.

It's not just the ability to compete in a sporting event. To say that is demeaning to what our athletes do. Imagine if you worked all your life to become a doctor. Missed out on a social life in your youth, studied for hours on end, every day, never had time for anything besides school and then all of the sudden you were banned from being a doctor. That's what your doing to these athletes in order to tell Russia that you don't agree with their law. Wow good job. Gold star for you.

You want to feel good as Canadian in support of gay rights? Go protest in russia during the olympics. Don't sacrifice others life long ambitions so you can pat yourself on the back for doing nothing.

undercoverbrother · 08-09-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

I applaud Russia for banning gay propaganda in public. It is the will of their people who hold traditional family values. Taking your kids to a gay parade where grown men prance around in S&M outfits is child abuse.

The law does not seem that bad anyways. You guys make is sound like they are putting gays into prison camps.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/col...imperialism-0/

Wait, What? Pravda says it's all good it must be all good. Russia is know for its independent hard hitting thought provoking journalism.

Move along nothing to see here.