Does anyone feel like the International Olympic Committee is absolutely, 100 percent, regretting picking Sochi as the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics? They’re like that really bitter married couple that knows they’re never going to work out, so they’re just waiting until the kids move out to college so that they can divorce. Same deal.
[Image via Canada.com]
Well, the IOC has figured that this Sochi thing is happening, so they might as well make the best of it, so they’ve decided to just power through it and remind their athletes and allies to refrain from protesting during the Games.
According to the Toronto Star, the IOC is currently putting together a memo, which “will focus on Rule 50 in the Olympic Charter, which states: ‘No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.’”
Of course, this kinda raises the question: how do you define political? I know, that sounds super douchey and pretentious, but think about it: you see a hetero couple kissing on TV. Does anyone think it’s political? Not really, no. Comparatively, a homosexual kissing on TV would be considered political, regardless of the intention. How are you supposed to set an appropriate boundary when people can and will read way too far into everything no matter what you do? (I’M AWARE OF THE IRONY.)
But I get the larger point here: Russia’s laws are fucking crazy, and the IOC just wants everyone to get through it without the hammer coming down on anyone. But maybe next time? Vet your host cities just a tiny more thoroughly.
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