The conceit that the IOC or the Olympics or whatever is a non-political entity is absolute baloney. The reality is that by going to certain places and participating with certain groups and legitimizing certain types of behaviour, you are giving tacit approval.

In this case, the Olympics are giving tacit approval to the legitimacy of the Russian government and what it is doing right now.

Likewise, every time the Olympics occurs on aboriginal land, the IOC is giving tacit approval to land theft.

Moreover, when the Olympics occurs in cities where the homeless population is arrested, placed on buses, and shipped to other cities in order to shirk social responsibility onto other communities, the IOC is giving approval to that as well.

As Howard Zinn said: you can't be neutral on a moving train.

The reality is that the Olympics are and have been a highly political entity for decades and they hide behind the cowardly facade of pretending to be apolitical but let's not kid ourselves: The IOC is firmly entrenched in the Money Party. And they gladly walk all over any country's most vulnerable citizens to get it.

I've personally been boycotting the shit show that is the Olympics since I was old enough to read about jut how destructive and predatory this institution is and I'm happy to continue the tradition with Sochi.

I'm not sure how a country that is a danger to it's own GLBTQ civilians, visiting GLBTQ athletes and visiting GLBTQ spectators could possibly be considered as a "great venue" by the IOC.

Maybe a different set of criteria needs to be introduced if safety of those 3 groups aren't already on the list?

The idea of moving the games is silly at this point, cancelling and boycotting seem to be very good options however.

From Stephen Fry's statement: "At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world." He's right, and part of the IOC choosing Russia as the host country is giving them approval. Political organisation or not.

I don't think any one knows the gravity and immense scope in planning for BIDDING for the games actually entails much less HOSTING the games.

Host cities are awarded 7 years ahead of the year of the games, The host city of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (2016) was awarded to Rio in 2009 and next month we select the host city of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (2020) (Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul are up and Tokyo and Istanbul are neck and neck, I haven't made my recommendations yet). The LAST time an Olympic games was moved from the city it awarded to was the XII Winter Olympic Games (1976) after Denver who was awarded the games in May of 1970 gave it back in November OF THE SAME YEAR and Innsbruck accepted it after MUCH hesitation. There was talks of canceling the games that left a very foul taste in the mouth of the IOC and today it would not make it to the floor of the IOC for discussion.

Keep in mind that Innsbruck has hosted the games before and even with that experience they had to really think about it. Asking a city that has hosted it in the past with just (let's be generous) 7 months notice is unthinkable. Please remember that the 7 years window is when the IOC awarded the city the games to the actual year of the games. These cities also had to make bids as well as funding the games, feasibility studies and a plan on where to put everything.

Also unless it is a major part of a city's infrastructure many venues for the Games are temporary and are demolished within a year of the games ending. My best example of this is Olympic Stadium for the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, it's now Turner field and 1/2 of it was demolished with in months of the Closing Ceremonies. The cauldron now sit in the parking lot of Turner Field.

So if the GLBT groups and George Takei want to foot to 30 BILLION dollars (Cost to date for Sochi minus corruption) to construct the venues in another city and RUSH the job in 6 months and comply with all the International Federations standards and safety compliance. Plan a torch relay, mine the gold silver and bronze for the medals, design a torch, put together an opening and closing ceremonies, build media centers, oh, and pay the media houses their rescheduling fee (It's built into their contracts). Schedule the events, get it cleared from the networks. Rework the NOC's Delegation, create new marketing for the games and, here's an important one folks, GET THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAS BEEN SELECTED AND CLEARED FOR SOCHI CLEARED FOR THE OTHER CITY. If you can do that all in the next 6 months. Go for it, Also there are lists that needs to be cleared in the next 1,2,3,4, and 5 months too including Security and contingencies, the anti-doping center and Athlete Housing.

Also it was the USOC that didn't take action and it was the USOC that decided to change athletes in 1936. The IOC had talks to change the venue in 1934, but it was the USOC that stopped those discussion when it very publicly accepted an invitation to the games of Berlin. If you want to blame any one for 1936 blame Avery Brundage.

Also has any one found out if another city if even WILLING to take the games at this point?

Things are only getting worse it seems?

http://www.queerty.com/gay-russian-teen-reportedly-dies-after-being-kidnapped-tortured-by-neo-nazis-20130806/

Quote by Keioel

Actually some of us were upset about Vancouver building on land sacred to the First Nations. Aboriginals are in Australia. ;) Off the top of my head under the duties of the IOC parts 2, 6, 10, and 14 could be argued to require the IOC to makes its position on the matter clear.

Not to split hairs, but "aboriginal" is not exclusive to Australia. See Canada's "Constitution Act, 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms," where the term is used for all Canadian indigenous population, including but not limited to First Nations.

The problem with holding the Olympics in Russia is that the Olympics aren't about the competition anymore. It's about money and stature to the host location as well as the sponsors and news organizations involved. Just look at how Romney used his limited involvement in the SLC Olympics to try and boost his stature, not to mention how Hitler used it in 1936. By having the Olympics in Russia while they are enacting a campaign that is not dissimilar to Nazi Germany in 36 against an oppressed minority, the IOC is tacitly rewarding this behavior and giving Putin the same boost in stature, at least within his own country, that Hitler received. The IOC had the opportunity in 1936 to take a stand against one of the most undeniably evil people in the history of the world, and they didn't. The same thing is happening now. Is Putin evil like Hitler? Will he go down the same path of scapegoating a minority group that others conveniently dislike? Only someone from the future can tell us at this point, but why give him the same opportunities that the world gave Hitler?

Correct, I haven't seen the audition show--I didn't even know it existed! Link, please? Thanks!

http://gw2stuff.com/ is an event timer with a map of where stuff is happening.

Quote by SiranNataan

Spoiler (Show)

So, I have no gaydar, I didn't even know that Bradon was gay. But wasn't that all like the sweetest thing?

Bradon = Second win. Dom = Second week in a row in top three. If the show ended tonight, I have correct predictions. :)

And, oy, Sandro the enfant terrible is gone, gone, gone. You act like a junior-higher, you pay the consequences.

Also please don't think my statements are a personal attack upon you or anyone else working for the IOC. I've been the program director of a couple non-profits so I can understand how sometimes an attack on the organization can feel like an attack upon yourself, but in this case it isn't. I can disagree with an organization without disliking the personnel. :)

Actually some of us were upset about Vancouver building on land sacred to the First Nations. Aboriginals are in Australia. ;) Off the top of my head under the duties of the IOC parts 2, 6, 10, and 14 could be argued to require the IOC to makes its position on the matter clear.

While it is obvious that this is a polarizing issue that resonates deeply with people for many different reasons, I ask everyone to take a deep breath and keep from engaging in any kind of name calling or attacks. We may be strongly divided by our perspectives on this issue. But that's no excuse for unacceptable behavior.

Thank you

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23630868

Then I must be juvenile. I think I am letting my personal feelings of hate cloud my logic. The Olympics and IOC will survive no matter what. I can have my little mini protest by not watching any Olympic coverage.

Safety of the athletes for these games is in question, and I'm willing to bet that the IOC knows this. Will they move the venue? Most likely not. Should they address public concerns circulating through the media? Absolutely.

**WARNING: SELF RIGHTEOUS INDIGNANT RANT AHEAD**

http://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf

Here's a link to the full text of the Olympic Charter. Please show me where our mission compels us to take a stand.

For the record, in 2007 I signed my name to a document that said in full faith and confidence Sochi would be the best host of the XXII Winter Olympic Games. I could have chosen between Sochi, Pyeonchang and Salzburg. If I had to make the decision again today I would still have chosen Sochi. I reaffirmed that document in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and as recently as July, by signing a document that said that in my review and evaluation of Sochi they would be prepared and able to execute a GREAT games. Next month in Buenos Aires I will report that Sochi is ready and prepared to host the games.

For some one to say that I'm only out for my job is deeply insulting, to say that i'm hurt by being called a few names is juvenile when you don't know the context. (Note: When I was called a castrated pig it was in front of my aunt). The only accurate part about that is that I am concern about the Organization. The same organization that made me the person I am today. I am passionate about the IOC and all it stands for. I have gotten more support out of the IOC, the committee's members, and every one involved in the Olympic Movement than I have gotten out of the HRC, GLADD or any US Based GLBT organization.

BTW Where was all this outrage when the Vancouver announced it was building parts of it's venues on land sacred to the Aboriginals, or over Tibet and Beijing? And wheres all the noise about the Circassians, 5 million people who was displaced from the area Sochi is in now?

So the Olympic games are more important than human rights? The IOC is a large organization and has access to many many countries. I just wish they would do something. They have all that power. I mean come on. Russia is threatening to arrest and publicly beat gay Olympic athletes. Does the IOC have no obligation to say or do anything? To at least protest this part of it and protect the athletes?

That's a great point Gravity, however, the IOC's very mission means when things like this occur people are going to expect them to take a stand/decision. Personally, I'd prefer to see the Olympics as they were in the original games, a place where even enemies can compete in peace (relative, I mean this was classical Greece) without politics getting involved.

Having said that, I'm not a part of the IOC so I don't have to remain neutral, so Fuck Russia!!

Have fun all you folks going! Take pics!