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Russia’s sports minister: Mistake to pass anti-gay law before Olympics
MOSCOW — Russia’s sports minister says passing the gay “propaganda” law that sparked calls for boycotting the Sochi Olympics was a mistake — not because of its contents but because of its timing.
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Russian sports minister likens gay relations to alcohol, substance abuse
MOSCOW — Russia’s law banning gay “propaganda” for minors won’t infringe on the private lives of athletes and spectators at next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, the country’s sports minister said Sunday.
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Olympic Committee wants more assurances from Russia on anti-gay law
MOSCOW — The International Olympic Committee is waiting for the Russian government to clarify the anti-gay law that is overshadowing preparations for the Sochi Games.
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Activists confront Russia’s U.N. envoy over anti-gay law
UNITED NATIONS — Gay rights activists confronted Russia’s U.N. ambassador Thursday and tried to hand over a petition with more than 340,000 signatures urging world leaders to help eliminate anti-gay laws in Russia ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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Russia says ‘calm down,’ rights will be respected at Sochi Games
MOSCOW — Urging critics of Russia’s new anti-gay law to “calm down,” the country’s sports minister said Thursday that the rights of all athletes competing at next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi will be respected.
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Russian sports minister says Russia will enforce anti-gay law during Olympics
MOSCOW — Russia will enforce a new law cracking down on gay rights activism when it hosts international athletes and fans during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the country’s sports minister said Thursday, appearing to contradict assurances to the contrary from the International Olympic Committee.