IOC given assurance on anti-gay law
The International Olympic Committee has received assurances from the Russian government that its new anti-gay law will not impact on the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
In Russia, it is illegal to give under-18s information about homosexuality following the passing of a new law in June.
There have been calls to strip Sochi of the Games, which are scheduled to take place from February 7 to 23 next year, in reaction to the legislation, with actor Stephen Fry urging Prime Minister David Cameron to support his motion.
The IOC has been in contact with the Kremlin over the new law.
"The IOC has received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games," an IOC statement read.
"This legislation has just been passed into law and it remains to be seen whether and how it will be implemented, particularly as regards the Games in Sochi.
"The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation.
"The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes.
"We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle."
Speaking in Moscow ahead of the IAAF World Athletics Championships, which begin on Saturday, IOC president Jacques Rogge said his organisation is awaiting further clarification over the translation of part of the law.
"The Olympic charter is very clear, it says sport is a human right and should be available to all," Rogge said.
"When the law was edicted, we asked for a written confirmation of assurances. We received it, we studied it this morning.
"There are still uncertainties and we decided to ask for more clarification. We are waiting for clarification before making a final judgement on these assurances.
"It's about a couple of paragraphs where we don't understand all the details. We don't think it's a fundamental issue, more a translation issue."
