I’ve been watching the Olympics for as long as I can remember. I regularly watch both the Winter and Summer Olympics. I’ve always tried to see as many activities as I can possibly watch (not the easiest task). It is definitely a tradition of mine. I simply love watching the best athletes compete in a world venue. While I have been a loyal viewer of the Games for most of my life, this year I will refrain from watching a single minute.
Why you might ask? Well, I do not support the IOC’s decision to have the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. President Putin’s remarks towards gay individuals and now recently his call to kill all stray dogs has left a bitter taste in any appetite I generally have for the Olympics. I will not support a government that not only condescends towards a faction of its population, but goes beyond disenfranchising them from society. It is despicable.
Regardless of your opinion on gay marriage (here’s my opinion), the LGBTQ community should not be persecuted and banned for their internal essence. I guess Russian leaders live in some antiquated era.
Furthermore, there have been reports of orders to exterminate all stray dogs near the vicinity of the Games. I don’t understand why the IOC even chose this place. If you can’t be inclusive to all people and humane to animals then you shouldn’t be representing the international committee. The Games are supposed to be a peaceful time. There is supposed to be mutual respect and camaraderie between competitors.
What I see now, is not the essence of any Olympics. I cannot support these Games. While I alone will not dent the ratings for the telecast, I can at least rest assure that I have taken a stance on the principle of the matter. I wish America’s athletes the very best. I really do. Sadly, I just won’t be watching them this year.
Will you?
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Twitter: @adrakontaidis & @talkrealdebate
