Putin Promises "Equal Terms" For All Athletes At '14 Sochi Games

Russia President Vladimir Putin today said that the country's "top responsibility as host of the Winter Olympics is to ensure equal conditions for all the athletes." Putin during a press conference said the "main thing for us is the good organization of these competitions, the creation of equal terms for all athletes." This comes two days after U.S. President Barack Obama announced that two openly gay athletes would be part of the U.S. delegation to the Sochi Games (AP, 12/19).

The L.A. TIMES' Helene Elliott writes Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow being part of the U.S. delegation is a "message of unmistakable defiance to Russia, which has adopted anti-gay legislation that bans 'propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships to minors,' effectively prohibits gay-rights rallies, and jeopardizes those who express support of gays" (L.A. TIMES, 12/19).