A senior Italian member of the International Olympic Committee has slammed the US for mixing politics with the Olympics in its “absurd” decision to include openly gay athletes in its official delegation to the Winter Games in Russia’s Sochi.
In a comment that has caused quite a stir, Mario Pescante also described President Barack Obama’s move as political extortion, according to Italian media.
“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 OC meeting on Wednesday, reported Associated Press, citing local press. “The games should not be an occasion and a stage to promote rights that sports support daily.”
