Navigation: This page 'kgsvr.net/andrew//opinions/sochi.boycott.html'
---> List of Opinion pages ---> Main Home Page ---> Author. About page. Send comments. Contact.

Sochi Winter Olympics Boycott
Was it Worth It?

Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkell and other Western leaders boycotted the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The reason: Russia had passed a bill banning propaganda against minors which promotes "non-traditional sexual relations" (homosexuality especially). The penalty for such non-traditional relations is 100k roubles (just less than £2000 ,$3000) for individuals and £20000 ($30000) for organisations.

Now Russia is getting involved in the unrest in the Ukraine, and has passed a bill to allow President Putin to send troops into Krym (Crimea) [Background]. Barack Obama and David Cameron have tried to put pressure on President Putin to draw back from military involvement.

Is it reasonable for Obama and Cameron to expect Putin to be influenced by their pressure? Will not Putin and the Russian people feel insulted by their boycott of the Olympics? Have Obama, Cameron not sacrificed any influence they might have had with Russia for the sake of this gesture?

And what was this gesture about? Was this gesture, the boycott over something of international importance? Several things seem to suggest otherwise:

When put on the scale of importance, how does this weigh against international military conflict and war, where thousands stand to die and millions to suffer?

Was the boycott of the Winter Olympics worth it?

Note on Background: This is because the President of Ukraine has recently fled to Russia after angering much of the Ukrainian people by refusing better links with Europe, whereas the majority of people in Krym want better links with Russia, and the Prime Minister of Krym has promised a referendum on independence from . Krym was 'given' to Ukraine only short while ago by Kruschev.

To send comments, queries, suggestions, please fill in the following and click 'Submit':



If you would like a reply,
please enter an email address:
and a name by which I might address you:

Thank you. This will send an email to me, to which I will endeavour to respond.

About This Page

This is an Opinion Page put up by Andrew Basden that aim to stimulate ideas for discussion. Contact details.

Copyright (c) Andrew Basden at all the dates below. But you may use this material subject to certain conditions.

Written on the Amiga with Protext.

Created: ?26 July 2015. Last updated: 25 June 2020 changed copyright file.

About This Page

This is an Opinion Page put up by Andrew Basden that aim to stimulate ideas for discussion. Contact details.

Copyright (c) Andrew Basden at all the dates below. But you may use this material subject to certain conditions.

Written on the Amiga with Protext.

Created: 2 March 2014. Last updated: 26 July 2015 added nav and end. 25 June 2020 changed copyright file.