Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Russian president Vladimir Putin says gay people welcome at Winter Olympics

Russian president Vladimir Putin says gay people welcome at Winter Olympics
Copyright 
By Euronews
Published on
Share Comments
Share Close Button

Russian president Vladimir Putin has moved to defuse controversy over gay rights in the lead up to the 2014 Winter Olympics.

He told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that everyone would be welcome in host city Sochi, “regardless of sexual orientation”.

It comes after Russia introduced a law banning “homosexual propaganda” among children, triggering angry criticism from the West and even some calls for a boycott of the games.

“We are doing everything, both the organisers and our athletes and fans, so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi, regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation” Putin told Thomas Bach, head of the IOC.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share Comments

Read more

Putin calendars return to Russian stores

No breakthrough on Ukraine after Witkoff-Putin talks in Moscow

Zelenskyy faces tough choice as Putin welcomes US-Russia peace plan