Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama rule out a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, insisting that anti-gay prejudice will be better tackled by attending the event.
In response to a high-profile intervention from broadcaster Stephen Fry calling for the games to be moved, David Cameron said he had shared the “deep concern” about the abuse of gay people in Russia.
But writing on Twitter the prime minister said: “I believe we can better challenge prejudice as we attend, rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics.”
Meanwhile Barack Obama told a press conference that he was looking forward to gay and lesbian athletes from the US winning medals in Sochi, which he said “would go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we’re seeing there”.
He added that if Russia does not have gay or lesbian athletes, “then, it’ll probably make their team weaker”.
The calls come as the eyes of the sporting world is on Russia as it hosts another major sporting event, Moscow’s World Athletics Championship, with major stars including Usain Bolt and Britain’s Mo Farah taking part.
Mr Fry had urged the prime minister to support moves to strip Russia of the 2014 Winter Olympics over concerns about anti-gay laws passed in the country.
The broadcaster, writing in an open letter on his website, compared the situation to the decision to hold the 1936 games in Nazi Germany and said President Vladimir Putin “is making scapegoats of gay people”.
Read more: Will an Olympic boycott actually help gay Russians?
He said: “An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillehammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.”
1/2 Thank you for your note @stephenfry. I share your deep concern about the abuse of gay people in Russia…
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) August 10, 2013
2/2 @stephenfry However, I believe we can better challenge prejudice as we attend, rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics. DC
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) August 10, 2013
TV sports presenter Clare Balding has been lined up to present the Winter Olympics for the BBC and has been urged by gay activists, including Peter Tatchell to speak out about the worsening situation in Russia.
In a statement on her website, she said she welcomed Mr Fry raising the issue, but added that she would attend the games and maintain her professionalism.
She said: “If the venue for the Winter Olympics remains as it is, I will be presenting from Sochi for the BBC. I will do so because I am a sports presenter who happens to be gay.
I intend to stand proud, do my homework and do my job as well as I possibly can Clare Balding
“I think the best way of enlightening societies that are not as open-minded as our own is not to be cowed into submission. I intend to stand proud, do my homework and do my job as well as I possibly can – as I would for any other sporting event.”
Mr Fry’s call comes after politicians in Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, passed a law imposing heavy fines for providing information about homosexuality to people under 18.
Last month, the International Olympic Committee said it would “work to ensure that the games can take place without discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media”.
It said: “To that end, the IOC has received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the games.”