The AP repors the IOC today “defended the removal” of gay-rights activist VLADIMIR LUXURIA from a Sochi arena, “saying she was ‘escorted from there peacefully’ and not detained.” Luxuria was “taken away by four unidentified men in a car with Olympic markings as she tried to enter an arena” last night for a women's hockey game. She was “dressed in rainbow colors” and had “been walking around Olympic Park for nearly two hours.” Most of the Russian spectators “seemed clueless about the gay rights message” (AP, 2/18). Meanwhile, dozens of Russian hockey fans yesterday gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, "some brandishing hockey sticks, to protest a disallowed goal scored by the Russian team" in Saturday’s game against the U.S. The "admittedly good-natured" demonstration was "the largest protest action since the Games began, attracting almost twice the number of demonstrators as a protest held over the weekend in Moscow that criticized the cost of the Games and supported gay rights" (NYTIMES.com, 2/17).
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| Putin has attended ice hockey, biathlon and figure skating events in Sochi |
EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE: REUTERS' Karolos Grohmann reported Russia President
VLADIMIR PUTIN "seems to be everywhere at the Sochi Olympics these days," and he is "relishing the spotlight." He has "attended ice hockey, biathlon and figure skating events" and as far as the IOC is concerned, his frequent appearances are "doing the Games only good." IOC Dir of Communications
MARK ADAMS: "It is good to have the support of the head of state of the country and we are very happy for his support" (
REUTERS, 2/17). Putin on Friday evening showed up at the U.S. and Canada houses. He "sipped red wine with leaders" of the USOC, "posed for photographs with stunned athletes and jokingly wished Canada luck -- except on the ice in hockey" (
N.Y. TIMES, 2/17). Meanwhile, in London, Ian Chadband reported a picture of Putin holding the hand of Russian skier
MARIA KOMISSAROVA as she "lay in her hospital bed breathing through a tube, has moved a nation." Komissarova on Sunday night was airlifted from Sochi to Germany "for further surgery following the ski cross crash which has left her with a fractured spine" (
London TELEGRAPH, 2/17).
OLYMPIC CONTROVERSIES: In Toronto, Steve Buffery reported Canadian speedskater
BRITTANY SCHUSSLER is facing "a barrage of criticism over a picture she posted to Twitter" of Putin and herself. She posted the picture with the caption, "I should have asked him to be my valentine!" The tweet "sparked an angry backlash." Schussler since deleted it, but said that she "was trying to be funny" (
TORONTO SUN, 2/17). Meanwhile, Lebanese skier
JACKIE CHAMOUN has "been criticized by her country’s sports minister and other politicians for a series of nude pictures of her that were leaked to the press." The photos were "taken on the snow at Lebanon’s most famous ski resort three years ago for a ski calendar." Some Lebanese, "citing the country's conservative (but liberal-evolving) culture, have blasted the skier, who has apologized." However, supporters who "believe the controversy is silly, have taken to social media to support Chamoun" (
NJ.com, 2/15).
POWER SWEEP: 49ers TE VERNON DAVIS after serving as U.S. Curling's "honorary captain" at the '10 Vancouver Games, "accepted a return invitation to try and inspire a comeback" in Sochi. While the U.S. men were "eliminated from medal round contention by an 8-6 loss to Canada," Davis "isn't jumping off the curling bandwagon" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/16). ESPN.com's Wayne Drehs wrote Davis "arrived in Sochi on Friday" and is "having one heck of a time." Davis on Saturday "watched the U.S.-Russia hockey game" and on Sunday "met with" U.S. Curling skip JOHN SHUSTER following the team's loss to Canada (ESPN.com, 2/16).
MAKING IT THERE AFTER ALL: Tennis great BILLIE JEAN KING "will attend" the Sochi Games Closing Ceremony on Sunday. King did not travel to the Opening Ceremony "because of her mother's death," but she will join former U.S. speedskaters BONNIE BLAIR and ERIC HEIDEN as part of PRESIDENT OBAMA's "official U.S. delegation." King in a statement said, "I will use this trip to honor the memory of my mother and to further my mission of equality" (AP, 2/15).
