IOC chief refused to meet Russian LGBT activists in Sochi

Oct 30 2013
Written by Rudy Katoch

Russian gay activists claim the president of the International Olympic Committee refused to meet with them while visiting the 2014 Winter Games city of Sochi.

Thomas Bach, the head of the IOC, was in Moscow on Monday where President Vladimir Putin assured him that Olympic athletes will feel “comfortable regardless of sexual orientation”.

A federal bill banning gay “propaganda” was signed into law by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in June.

After two weeks of asking, the Russian LGBT Network said: “The refusal by Thomas Bach to meet with LGBT organisations in Sochi is disappointing, but we are glad that this discussion with the IOC will still take place”.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “We look forward to welcoming them” at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

The date for this meeting remains unspecified.