NEWS: Athletes Supporting Gay Rights May Be Punished By IOC

<p>International Olympics Committee may punish athletes who Support LGBT Rights In Russia.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 13th August 2013</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4597030987.jpg" width="460" height="345" alt="Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wootpeanuts/" title="Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wootpeanuts/"/></p> <p></p><p>• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that they may punish athletes who show any political gesture.</p><p>• The IOC maintains “Olympic Games are not a place for proactive political or religious demonstration.’</p><p>• Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states: no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas’</p><p></p><p>The IOC has pointed towards a stance that could see athletes who show solidarity with the Russian LGBT community, whilst on Olympic grounds punished.</p><p></p><p>On Saturday actor and author Stephen Fry <a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/STEPHEN-FRY-'Athletes-Should-Find-A-Symbol'-For-LGBT-Russians/6315483">in an interview with the BBC</a> called for athletes to adopt a ‘solidarity pose’ to show recognition for the violations against lesbian, gay bisexual and trans people.</p><p></p><p>Speaking to GayStarNews, Olympic officials said, ‘Regarding your suggestions, the IOC has a clear rule laid out in the Olympic Charter (Rule 50) which states that the venues of the Olympic Games are not a place for proactive political or religious demonstration.’</p><p></p><p>The IOC told GSN, ‘This rule has been in place for many years and applied when necessary,</p><p>‘In any case, the IOC would treat each case individually and take a sensible approach depending on what was said or done.’</p><p></p><p>Openly gay figure skater, Blake Skjellerup, who recently graced the cover of GayTimes, has pledged that he will make a stand by wearing a rainbow pin. </p><p></p><p>TheGayUK asked the IOC whether they would take action over someone wearing a rainbow flag or even a religious item – a spokesperson was not immediately available. </p><p></p><p>According to the Olympic Charter punishment may include:</p><p></p><p>• Temporary or permanent ineligibility </p><p>• Exclusion from the Olympic Games, </p><p>• Disqualification or withdrawal of accreditation</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>