Reply With Quotepart of me thinks:
Let's see the governing body do what it can to combat homophobia and have these atheletes compete under a rainbow banner. Because let's be blunt- that would irritate the shit out of a lot of pig-ignorant Russians including a lot of those in power. But then it rather undermines the whole spirit of equality if you use the flag as a slur because of the ignorant way it will be received, and that doesn't really help anyone.
So I am back to banning the lot of them to be honest. Nation states still mean something even in the 21st century, and the one they have come from is rotten. Not their fault, but if you want to punish the State then you have to punish its citizens, because that might drive change.
I admit that my rather extreme views are affected by having had to deal with the frankly mob-like Russian state this week, as well as private organisations there who seemingly have absolutely no sense of right or wrong. It's a snake pit and I'm glad I rarely have to deal with it.
