Media Watch - Russia's Anti-Gay Policies; 2015 Pan Am Games; Road to Rio 2016

Responses to Russia' Anti-Gay Policies

ESPNfeatures short-track speedskater Blake Skjellerup to discuss howathletes will respond to Russia’s anti-gay policies following violentclashes between gay rights activists and anti-gay demonstrators.

CNN responded with an editorial from Frida Ghitis demanding that fans and athletes make these Olympics "the gayest ever" by marching with flags, holding hands, and making it "an 'I am Spartacus' moment for the world."

BuzzFeedclaims Russia’s anti-LGBT policies are only a "small preview of what’scoming" in the form of human rights violations in countries scheduled tostage world events.

AToronto Stareditorial urges prime minister Stephen Harper to seek assurances that Canada's gay athletes won't be harassed.

Aside from hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics,Russia is set to host the 2018 World Cup. The World Cup after that "isslated to take place in Qatar, where homosexuality is punishable byseven years in prison," according to BuzzFeed.

The article ends with a call to action:

"Ifanything good is to come from the Russian government’s recent inhumanebehavior, perhaps it’s this: showing how much trouble we’re headed forin 2018 and 2022 while there’s still time to do something about it."

National Postwriter Araminta Wordsworth echoes these sentiments and claims Russia’srecent crackdown on homosexuality is only one part of a "laundry list ofproblems with the Sochi Olympics."

Amidst reports of corruption and boycotts, The Huffington Post offers a geographical glimpse into the city of Sochi.

Canadian athletes Kris Burley and Ann Peel write for Star.com and claim a Sochi Olympic boycott "isn’t the answer to Russia’s anti-gay policies."

According to the authors, a boycott "won’t change the law."

"What it will do is punish the athletes and coaches who have who have devoted their lives to training, and who have earned the opportunity to represent their countries," the authors add.

The article explores moments in history when the Olympics were used as "a powerful political symbol," but reminds readers that "they are also the pinnacle of competition for many athletes around the world."

"We must think seriously before we use the Games as a political statement," the article states.

Other News From Canada

Star.com reports that the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport is running anti-doping program to "try and keep the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto clean."

The CBC follows "great moments in Canadian Summer Olympic history."

OnJuly 30, the CBC began its tour through Olympic history with four keyperformances from Canadian athletes at the 1928 Amsterdam Games.

The CBC will continue its coverage of Canadian Summer Olympic performances throughout the next couple of weeks.

News From Rio

Helio Schwartsman writes for Folha De S. Paulo and says Rio should "give back to Chicago" the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Schwartsmanrefers to a recent Chicago Sun-Times article that featured a picture ofprotests in Rio and a headline reading: "We Lost For This?" Hediscusses the downside of hosting the Olympics, and ultimately agreesthat Rio should hand over the responsibility.

In regards to hotel accommodation, "Brazil's tourism capital could more accurately be called the expensive city."

According to the BBC,a growing number of hospitality sector entrepreneurs "are coming to therescue of cash-strapped tourists." Rio's hostels flourish leading up tothe World Cup and Summer Olympics.

In Other News:

The Guardian posts rankings for an "alternative Olympic medal table." The Royal Statistical Society and the Datablog teamed up with four statisticians at Imperial College, London, to work out "how key factors might change the Olympic league table." And the winner is... The Drum asks whether "brands and sports fans are ready to embrace" the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The article features Glasgow 2014 officials who discuss distinct differences between the Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympics. For almost four decades, Mondo has "spread its magical" track surface design throughout the world. The Italian company designed the track inside the Luzhniki Stadium for the 2013 IAAF World Championships. The Championships will begin on August 10 in Moscow.Written by Nicole Bennett.

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