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Russia’s law banning gay propaganda not to affect Sochi Olympics guests - IOC head

The IOC president also emphasised that the sports organisation for its part will work to prevent discrimination at the Olympics

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

BERLIN, August 18 (Itar-Tass) - President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge believes that there will be no discrimination against participants in the Sochi Olympic Games Russia in light of the adoption of the law banning the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.

“The IOC has received assurances from the highest government agencies of the Russian Federation that this law will not infringe upon the rights of any guests of the Olympics or the athletes,” Rogge said in an interview published by the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday.

The IOC president also emphasised that the sports organisation for its part will work to prevent discrimination at the Olympics. “The Games should be open to everyone - the spectators, officials, journalists and, of course, athletes,” he said, pledging that the IOC “will exert every effort to fight against the phenomena that threaten this principle.”

Rogge also said that athletes also should not use the Olympics in Sochi as a platform to express protest. He recalled that Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter says, in particular, that “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” The penalty for violating this clause is “disqualification or withdrawal of the accreditation of the person concerned” without appeal.

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