IOC member criticizes US for including gay athletes in delegation

Associated Press

ROME

A senior Italian IOC member criticized the United States on Wednesday for including openly gay athletes in its official delegation for next month’s Sochi Olympics.

“It’s absurd that a country like that sends four lesbians to Russia just to demonstrate that in their country gay rights have [been established],” Mario Pescante said at an Italian Olympic Committee meeting in Milan on Wednesday, in comments widely reported by Italian media. “The games should not be an occasion and a stage to promote rights that sports supports daily.”

The Italian Olympic Committee would not confirm or deny Pescante’s comments, but his speech was reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport and the ANSA news agency.

Asked for clarification later by The Associated Press, Pescante said he is not against gays.

“Of course not,” the 75-year-old Pescante told The AP by telephone. “I just wanted to make the point not to let politics interfere with the Olympics.”

For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to the Olympics will not include a president, vice president or first lady. President Barack Obama is sending three openly gay athletes — tennis great Billie Jean King, figure skater Brian Boitano and hockey player Caitlin Cahow.

USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky declined to comment.

The selection of the U.S. delegation followed a furious backlash in the West over the Russian law banning gay “propaganda.”