Navratilova urges IOC for support to gay athletes
12 Dec 2013 5:37 AM IST
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova and former NBA star Jason Collins have urged world sports bodies like the International Olympic Committee to show more support for homosexual athletes. ‘IOC needs to stand up better for their athletes quite frankly,’ Navratilova told reporters on Thursday.
‘It’s (also) what happens after, and it’s not just one country, it’s many countries.’ The two sporting icons added their voices to the UN campaign to counter homophobic violence and discrimination.
‘Nobody is talking about, for example, Qatar, where the World Cup is going to be, homosexual activity is punishable by a jail term there,’the openly gay former tennis star said, referring to the 2022 FIFA World Cup of soccer.
Speaking on Russia which will host the coming winter Olympics in Sochi where authorities have an aggressive stance towards sexual minorities, Collins said the focus should be on the local LGBT community. ‘Once the games leave, all those people are still going to be there oppressed,’ Collins said.
‘It’s (also) what happens after, and it’s not just one country, it’s many countries.’ The two sporting icons added their voices to the UN campaign to counter homophobic violence and discrimination.
‘Nobody is talking about, for example, Qatar, where the World Cup is going to be, homosexual activity is punishable by a jail term there,’the openly gay former tennis star said, referring to the 2022 FIFA World Cup of soccer.
Speaking on Russia which will host the coming winter Olympics in Sochi where authorities have an aggressive stance towards sexual minorities, Collins said the focus should be on the local LGBT community. ‘Once the games leave, all those people are still going to be there oppressed,’ Collins said.
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