The International Olympic Committee will stop athletes who will show support for LGBT causes. Gay athletes and tourists at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia may be punished by both the country’s government and the Games committee if they are found to promulgate homosexual agenda.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a provision that bans gay propaganda in the country on June 30, 2013. The new law allows the Russian government to arrest anyone who promotes homosexuality in the country. Being gay is not a crime, but if the government believes that the person is promoting gay rights, then he or she will be arrested.

The draconian law is a problem itself, but what makes it worse is that the Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi in February 2014, which means there will be athletes and tourists who might be in danger of getting arrested if they are believed to be promoting homosexuality.

In a statement in early July, the IOC cleared that the games are “open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media, and of course, athletes,” adding that it would “oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle.”

However, lawmaker Vitaly Milonov said that the Russian government cannot choose a time when to enforce the law, which puts athletes and tourists back in danger of arrest during the Olympics.

“If a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority,” he said to Interfax, which was translated by GSN.

The contradicting statements from the IOC and the Russian politician prompted GayStarNews.com to ask the Olympics committee what steps are they planning to do to “make sure the LGBT community in Russia can have a visible, proud, safe presence at the games.”

The IOC replied that the Olympics is not the venue for “political” statements, adding that anyone who steps out of line may be punished not only by the Russian government, but by the Olympics officials as well.

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights campaigners have called on athletes to wear “rainbow pins” in the opening and closing ceremonies to show their support for LGBT people.

But the IOC describes that as a “propaganda,” which, under rule 50 of the IOC charter, is prohibited.

“No kind of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas.”

When the news Web site asked the IOC if it would provide a safe space, or a Pride House, for the LGBT community during the games, a spokeswoman replied, “Regarding your suggestions, the IOC has a clear rule laid out in the Olympic Charter (Rule 50) which states that the venues of the Olympic Games are not a place for proactive political or religious demonstration. This rule has been in place for many years and applied when necessary.

“In any case, the IOC would treat each case individually and take a sensible approach depending on what was said or done.”

The penalty for violation of Rule 50 may include “disqualification or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person concerned” without appeal.

According to the IOC, it supports gay and lesbian athletes being allowed to compete, but forbids them from using the Games as platform to protest Russia’s anti-gay law.

Related:
Russian Lawmaker Vitaly Milonov: Gay Athletes, Tourists Will Be Arrested At The Sochi Winter Olympics [Read]

RELATED STORIES