The main fight over the 2014 Sochi Olympics seems to be whether a recent Russian law banning "propaganda" involving "non-traditional sexual relations" qualifies as a matter of politics or of practical safety. The International Olympic Committee categorically does not get involved in politics. It was specifically founded as a non-political oversight committee for the Olympic Games, which are by definition global. In a situation where it is impossible to avoid politics to any reasonable extent -- such as, for example, a world war -- the IOC cancels the games. There were no Olympics in 1916, 1940 and 1944, because we were all busy shelling the shit out of each other, and there was nowhere to hold them that someone would not have promptly shelled the shit out of as well. The Committee will get involved in matters of human rights, but only if it pertains to the safety and security of the Olympic Games, the athletes, the support staff, and to a large extent, the specta...
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