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!

This becomes a very murky issue when you ask bodies like the IOC to take a stand politically outside of its clearly stated aims.
Whose politics exactly are they meant to endorse i mean different people believe different things and whilst these days yes alot of the western world is pro gay rights as i personally believe they should be.
My point is in the hypothetical situation where the IOC steps in and says no russia this is unacceptable your conduct means your not allowed to host the Olympics. Not only would they then need to move and the cost of that would be more than i dare to think about (and i dunno about you but i cant think of anyone willing to foot the bill). What happens if the Olympics is being bid for by a middle eastern country lets say Saudi or something. They dont exactly have a stellar reputation on women's rights (never mind gay rights) so should the IOC again step in and say im sorry your cant have the olympics you dont meet the standards that we have set for what a country should be as you dont cover the bases on human rights.

Whose morality would we use here i mean for example where i come from healthcare is considered a basic human right everyone can access for free. Does that mean the US should be off the list aswell?


The general gist of all this is just that it feels to me like we are using the IOC as a scapegoat here russia passed these laws and the rest of the world didn't really do much beyond go through the motions. Now suddenly we realise the Olympics are there we are getting mad at the IOC for not going out of its way to censure russia on this when nobody else was willing to.

Just makes me sad and angry that the IOC has not said or done anything. LGBT people are being tortured, imprisoned, publicly beaten, and killed. And Aikune seems to be more concerned about his job and the organization and being called a few names.

Moving it, without the avid support of the IOC and the host country (maybe rabid support would be better) isn't really feasible. My fear is what's gonna happen if someone is wearing a rainbow pin. Are they going to be arrested by the Russians or are they going to be kicked out by the IOC?

Quote by WhiteOnmyoji

Non starter, next topic.

What a dick. *kisses*