Anti-gay law confuses Sochi-bound athletes

Kelly Whiteside | USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK -- Every day a different Russian official seems to give a different interpretation of how Russia's anti-gay legislation may affect gay athletes and visitors at the Sochi Olympics. It's a confusing time for an athlete who could be fined, arrested and deported under the law if they take a public stand on the issue.

"In some ways we have to treat it like any other distraction," said Alex Cohen, the senior sport psychologist for the U.S. Olympic Committee. "You never want to try to block anything out. If it's on your mind it's for a good reason. You want to deal with it, not push those things away."

The Olympic charter states: "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

So should an athlete outspoken about gay rights be worried while in Sochi? "We want them to genuinely speak their minds while focusing on the things they can control," Cohen said Wednesday at a USOC event with sports performance experts and Olympians to discuss preparations for Sochi.

After American Nick Symmonds finished second in the 800 meters at track's world championships in Moscow on Tuesday, he dedicated his silver medal to his gay and lesbian friends back home. "As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them," Symmonds said, according to R-Sport. "Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights."

The state news agency said Symmonds is the first athlete to openly criticize Russia's controversial anti-gay law on the country's soil.

The next day Symmonds tweeted: "Working with the Russian LGBT sports federation to help bring tolerance and equality to this great nation." In a picture, he smiled as he shook the hand of the Russian LGBT Sports Federation president.

Less than six months from the start of the Olympics, winter athletes are tracking the issue. "I think it's really sad what's happening over there," said halfpipe snowboarder Elena Hight, a two-time Olympian on Wednesday. "It's good that it's bringing light to the subject and for us as athletes it's giving us the opportunity to share our opinions.

"I don't personally agree with what's going on over there and hopefully getting people talking is the best thing that can happen."

The IOC is waiting for further clarification from the Russia government on how the law will be enforced, IOC President Jacques Rogge said Friday.

"The main thing right now is we don't have a lot of details about what the legislation is and what's going to happen, all the details behind it," said bobsledder Elana Meyers, a 2010 Olympic bronze medalist.

"From an athlete perspective we're confident the USOC is doing everything possible to keep our athletes safe and that's our number one concern. We're here to compete whether you're gay, straight, what have you. We're all on team USA and trying to represent our country."

A coalition of gay rights advocates launched a campaign Wednesday asking Sochi visitors to take every opportunity to hold hands with a person of the same sex.

"For a few weeks we have the opportunity to bring the attention of the world to the situation in Russia," said Konstantin Yablotskiy, the Russian LGBT Sports Federation president. "(The hand holding) enables everyone to get involved with a simple yet iconic gesture."