Heads Of State, Activists, Celebrities Begin Call For 2014 Sochi Olympics Boycott

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that French officials, including President Francoise Hollande, "will not attend the games," according to Laura Heck of the PALM BEACH POST. ​Several days before that, German President Joachim Gauck "announced his own boycott." The Olympics "have turned the world's eye on Russia's human rights policies, including a strict anti-gay propaganda law." Activists and celebrities "have been calling for a boycott for months." EU Commissioner Viviane Reding "announced her boycott on Twitter last week." Lady Gaga, Madonna and Elton John all "spoke out while performing in Russia." Speculation for who will boycott next "has turned to everyone from the United States to the athletes themselves." The Washington Post's Jenifer Rubin urged a U.S. boycott, writing, "There is no reason to indulge the Russians. ... It would be a small but telling gesture if the Obama administration and all members of Congress would steer clear of Sochi" (PALM BEACH POST, 12/17).