|
 Another openly gay athlete, two-time Olympic hockey player Caitlin
Cahow, will represent the United States at closing ceremonies,
according to a White House statement.
Although Russia has thrown itself into staging the games,
preparations have been overshadowed by international criticism of
its human rights record and a recent anti-gay propaganda law that
critics say discriminates against homosexuals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said several times that gay
athletes are welcome in Russia and that no discrimination will be
tolerated. He has said the law is needed to protect young people.
The legislation, however, has drawn calls by human rights activists
to boycott the Olympics. German President Joachim Gauck has
announced he will not attend the Olympics even though he went to the
2012 London Olympic games, but he declined to comment on the reason
for his decision.
Likewise, France has said that neither President Francois Hollande
nor any top French official would attend the Sochi games, also
without offering an explanation.
President Barack Obama, speaking about the Russian law in a
television interview in August, said he had "no patience for
countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons
in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them."
The U.S. delegation is also led by a lower-ranking official than has
been the case for recent Olympic games. Former Secretary of Homeland
Security Janet Napolitano, who is now chancellor of the University
of California system, will lead the U.S. group, the White House said
in a statement.
[to top of second column] |
In contrast, first lady Michelle Obama headed the U.S.
delegation to the 2012 London games and Vice President Joe Biden
performed that role for the 2010 winter games in Vancouver.
The White House said the president's schedule did not allow him
to travel to Sochi, and declined to say whether it was sending
any message through its selection of the delegation.
"The U.S. delegation to the Olympic Games represents the
diversity that is the United States," White House spokesman Josh
Earnest said. "All our delegation members are distinguished by
their accomplishments in government service, civic activism and
sports."
The U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony also includes
Olympic figure skating gold medalist Brian Boitano, presidential
aide Rob Nabors, and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.
Cahow, the hockey player, was on teams that won silver medals in
Vancouver and bronze medals in the 2006 winter Olympics held in
Turin, Italy.
The United States has also been unhappy with Russia's decision
to grant temporary asylum to Edward Snowden, the former National
Security Agency contractor who has leaked classified documents
revealing the extent of U.S. surveillance of phone and email
traffic around the world.
(Reporting by Mark Felsenthal; editing by Ken Wills and Vicki
Allen)
[© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2013 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
