From Think Progress today:
“European Union commissioner Viviane Reding said Tuesday that she would not attend the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in Sochi, Russia in February, because of the country’s treatment of minorities including the LGBT community. “
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Reding is one of the Vice Presidents on the 28 member European Commission. She serves as the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
Reding tweeted her intention today. Earlier in the week German President Joachim Gauck said that he would not attend the upcoming Olympics.
In France, European Parliament representative, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, expressed his support for the sentiments of those calling for a boycott in an interview aired by Europe 1. At the end of the interview he was asked whether he would attend the games in Sochi. Cohn-Bendit replied that he would, indeed, attend the games, wrapped in a rainbow flag, to give Vladimir Putin “un bras d’honneur.” (see
Google Images for proper translation)
And the
LA Times reported today that the Russian government will create special protest zones at the Olympic games in Sochi, an idea that deserves "un bras d'honneur" of its own.