So now the IOC is threatening athletes, thinking this will stop demonstrations against Russia's filthy anti-gay law. Sure, that'll work. Hah.
Note: paragraphing is my own.
BUENOS AIRES — Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said Sunday that athletes would be warned about rules prohibiting demonstrations at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.Chernyshenko said that athletes and spectators at the Sochi Games would not be affected by the law and that organizers were “absolutely confident that there will be no conflicts in that regards.”
That is so funny! No conflicts at all. Good prognosticator, eh?
But Gerhard Heiberg of Norway, the Olympic committee’s marketing chief, said he had heard from corporate sponsors, particularly from the United States, “about what they are afraid of could happen.”
Six of the committee’s 10 worldwide sponsors are based in the United States: Coke, General Electric, McDonald’s, Visa, Dow Chemical and Procter & Gamble.
Heiberg urged the I.O.C. to be prepared with a plan in case demonstrations against the Russian law occur.“I think this could ruin a lot for all of us,” Heiberg said.He urged the committee to adhere to Rule 50 of the Olympic charter, which says that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted” at any Olympic site.
Rogge said athletes would be reminded about the rule, as they were before the 2008 Beijing Games.
But see, Beijing wasn't planning a holocaust for gays in 2008. Russia is. The games in Sochi are going to be interesting. There's no doubt about that. I hope Coke, McDonald's and all the other sponsors of this criminal Olympics lose business and suffer tremendous financial losses because they didn't stand up for human rights when they had a clear opportunity to do so. These companies are acting like pigs -- and they'll be in good company in Sochi.
2 comments:
I'm not sure what you want these companies to do Keith. Stay in as sponsors and hope everyone boycotts business and they lose money or do you want them to pull out sponsorship now and make the point they do not support Russia's stand on gay rights?
I think I would like to see some organized efforts to get these American-based world wide companies to come forward with strong statements in support of gay rights around the world. It would be a wonderful marketing tool to get the word about gay rights and sell their products at the same time.
After I wrote the post, that's exactly what I thought, Annie. You were right to call me out for not addressing it.
These companies need to come right out and say the Russian gay policy is inhumane and disgusting. And you're also right about the sales boost they'd get for doing this, and about their statements effectively promoting gay rights. You added what was missing from my post. Thanks!
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