Google puts pressure on Sochi games with anti-discrimination logo
Search giant Google has joined the ranks of those hitting out at Russia's dire record on civil liberties.
Russian rules against "gay propaganda" have been widely critiscised for promoting hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender groups.
Google's move to change its homepage logo follows comments from US Olympic team sponsor AT&T, who made clear its opposition to Russian policy in a recent blog post.
AT&T has a long and proud history of support for the LGBT community in the United States and everywhere around the world where we do business. We support LGBT equality globally and we condemn violence, discrimination and harassment targeted against LGBT individuals everywhere. Russia’s law is harmful to LGBT individuals and families, and it’s harmful to a diverse society.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended the rules which have been overshadowing the Winter Olympics, and insisted that there is no danger to LGBT attendees of the events.
Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin has condemned the Russian law as having led to "multiple human rights abuses, particularly hate-based violence against LGBT young people" and called upon other corporate sponsors to condemn Russia's record.
The Games' sponsors include Coca-Cola, General Electric, McDonalds, Procter & Gamble, Panasonic, Samsung, Omega, and Visa.
Google added this quotation from the Olympic Charter to its homepage:
"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." – Olympic Charter