The 2014 Winter Olympic Games will open in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 7, a mere 178 days from now.
That countdown should be greeted with excitement and anticipation, yet the Sochi Games are already clouded in ugly controversy on the issue of gay rights, or, more appropriately, the lack thereof.
At the end of June Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, unanimously passed a law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations". Illegal activities now include holding hands with someone of the same sex in public, displaying symbols like a rainbow flag, or even talking about homosexuality in the presence of minors. It is, without a doubt, a regressive and transparently discriminatory piece of legislation and now, with the eyes of the world turning to Russia, it is being exposed to the harsh light of judgment.
Russia's Interior minister, Vitaly Mutko, has even stated that any Olympic athletes found to be in violation of the law could face punishment.
"No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi," he said, "but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable."
Those are chilling and absurd words and the entire situation has led to calls for a boycott of the Sochi Games. Of course, this isn't the first time the world's greatest sporting event has become entangled in politics; in 1936 Jesse Owens crushed his Aryan competitors in Berlin while a furious Adolf Hitler looked on; in 1968 John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their gloved fists in the air while on the podium in an iconic symbol of black power; the 1980 and 1984 Games were diluted by mass boycotts from both sides of the Cold War.
Fortunately, a consensus seems to be emerging that boycotting the Games, as some have suggested, is not the way to go.
Former U.S. Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis once said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." He was talking about freedom of speech, but his words ring true on the issue of boycotting Sochi as well. Exposing the insanity of Russia's anti-gay law by bringing the world's attention to it is much more effective than staying away; besides, would not showing up really convince Vladimir Putin of the error of his ways? When the United States (and Canada) boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow, it didn't shake the Soviet Union to its core; that took another decade and upheaval much more significant than athletes not showing up to the Olympics.
Yes, the athletes. Too often in the past they have played the role of pawns on the political chess board, denied the chance of a lifetime because politicians in Washington or Moscow want to make a point. The Olympics only come once every four years, so missing out on Sochi could mean the end of someone's career or represent a missed opportunity for another athlete in the prime of his career.
Take, for example, Lyndon Rush. Here in town just a few weeks ago, the Humboldt native was candid about the fact that Sochi will probably be his last Olympics. He'll be 33 when the Games start, has a young family and can't keep up with the travel anymore. He's also a strong medal contender. If Canada were to boycott the Games, Rush's last, best chance would be gone, sacrificed at the altar of political meekness.
There would be countless other athletes just like Rush, devastated that they had lost all control over their own careers. It would be an ugly solution, and thankfully one that doesn't appear likely to happen.
Instead of boycotting, athletes in Sochi, gay or otherwise, have a chance to make history both on and off the playing surface. Some will win gold, others will fall short, but I suspect at least a couple will take Russia's hateful laws head-on. Who will be Sochi's John Carlos and Tommie Smith? Will a rainbow flag be 2013's black-gloved fist?
Less than six months until we find out.
BC
