With the Winter Olympics set to begin in Russia in February, Victorians are gearing up for a unique opportunity to sport their nation鈥檚 colours.
The men鈥檚 ice hockey team is, again, a favourite to bring home the gold and, if the 91原创 2010 Games provide any indication, a plethora of medals is due to come to Canada in 2014.
But these Games present a fundamentally altered dimension to the Games British Columbians played host to four years ago. This change does not merely stem from where the host nation is situated, but a vital difference in the makeup of the two nations鈥� cultures.
The Russian Federal Assembly recently passed a law criminalizing homosexuality, including any propaganda and advocacy surrounding it. This comes at a time of global unrest, with an economic recession in the midst of enacting itself on the already-strapped budgets of major governments and prolonged conflicts in the Middle East that demand the attention of the world鈥檚 great powers. Should marginalizing the nation鈥檚 LGBT community feature on Russia鈥檚 political agenda?
While many Victorians approach the question from a liberal standpoint, a progressive response to the issue hasn鈥檛 dominated the headlines. Many athletes have used the media to voice their political stance. Russian ice-hockey star Ilya Kovalchuk endorsed the controversial law, claiming the governmental decision should be respected. While he has incurred the wrath of many on the West Coast for his loyalist sentiments, Kovalchuk gives a face to the flip side of the argument. The athlete has identified for us a cultural dichotomy emanating from a Canada-Russia divide.
With the Olympics soon to be at the forefront of global news, athletes have been thrust into an enviable position: The words of an Olympian have the power to transcend mainstream political discourse and reach audiences not traditionally privy to human-rights discussions.
Similarly, National Hockey League star Sidney Crosby spoke out against the law, saying 鈥渆veryone has an equal right to play.鈥� Most on 91原创 Island can identify with this sentiment, a call to arms among like-minded thinkers who view the contentious law as a violation of basic human rights.
Advocates for gay rights have a unique opportunity to protest the Russian government鈥檚 stance in February, as the Games bring an influx of foreigners. Russian lawmakers are committed to treating these visitors like locals. This has laid the groundwork for what could be interpreted as an international rights dispute.
Such a scenario could be viewed as an attempt by Vladimir Putin鈥檚 government to contradict the liberal position many Western governments apply to gay-rights legislation. This debacle is conceivable as New Zealand speedskater Blake Skjellerup has vowed to wear a rainbow pin at the Games to protest the exclusionary laws. Such an act would be perceived as forwarding gay-rights propaganda, pressuring Russian authorities to charge the Kiwi. Such an action would initiate an international conflict that would make a resounding impact on the history of gay rights.
So far, the IOC has maintained a neutral position on the issue. President Thomas Bach has rationalized the committee鈥檚 non-partisan stance by citing its intention to focus on hosting a successful Games.
鈥淸The IOC] is not a supranational parliament of government,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd our responsibility is respect for the Olympic values in the Olympic Games and its participants and, by respecting the values in the Games, sending a message to society at large.鈥�
This could be construed as a rhetorical tactic to ensure the committee鈥檚 private interests. After all, taking action against Russia would incur substantial costs for Olympic stakeholders in relocating or cancelling the games. The IOC evidently has an incentive to turn a blind eye to the issue.
Many activists have proposed a boycott of the Games. This would entail media avoiding coverage of competitions, fans ignoring online promotions of the Games and spectators refraining from purchasing Olympic memorabilia.
Victoria is a bastion of gay rights and inclusivity. We must decide if it is our duty to condemn those who promote homophobia by ignoring an event integral to formulating a collective national identity.
Graydon Leigh is a political science major at the University of Victoria.
