Sexual Diversity and the Sochi 2014 Olympics

Sexual Diversity and the Sochi 2014 Olympics: No More Rainbows examines Russia’s 2013 anti-gay laws and their implications for the Sochi 2014 Olympics. A century in the making, these laws reflect decades of sexual repression in the former Soviet Union. Despite societal changes since 1993, there is little acceptance of sexual diversity, and the 2013 anti-gay law has led to an increase in homophobic violence.In its inadequate response to yet another human rights crisis in an Olympic host country, the International Olympic Committee relied on the myth that sport is apolitical. Once again, this strategy was successful. Magical thinking that sport unites the world led many critics to oppose an Olympic boycott, although some supported boycotts of sponsors’ products. Helen Jefferson Lenskyj argues that Putin’s Russia and the IOC are, in fact, well matched. Common features include undemocratic governance, fraudulent voting processes, hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy in leadership, homophobia, lesbian/gay invisibility, and promotion of ’sport-as-special’ propaganda.