BUSINESS BOYCOTT: Sochi Faces Boycotts In Firms Across The UK

<p>Many businesses including bars and restaurants will be Boycotting broadcasts of the Winter Olympics, including sports bars.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 7th Feb 2014</p><p></p><p>Russia's Sochi Winter Olympics are threatening to become one of the most unpopular in the history of the games as the world's media throws a spotlight on the <a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/TV-Russia's-Gay-Hunting-Season/7451373">terrible conditions LGBT people face in Russia</a> and the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/many-russians-sochi-games-marred-corruption-poll-180614599--oly.html">reported corruption that marrs the games</a>.</p><p></p><p>One such venue is the Elbow Room which has two locations in Bristol and Leeds - in a statement to TheGayUK they said:</p><p></p><p>The Elbow Room will not be screening any coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics games in protest at President Putin’s 2013 law prohibiting the distribution of ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations’ and the consequential rise in anti-gay violence and hate crimes in Russia. </p><p></p><p>The Elbow Rooms is one of Leeds longest established sports bars and has occupied its position on Leeds Call Lane for the last 15 years, at the heart of the cities social district. The owners and management have long strived to provide a range of global sports entertainment across all fields of competition. Being situated in the gay quarter of Leeds, we count amongst our neighbours such landmark venues as Fibre and The New Penny and are proud to occupy a location at the heart of Leeds annual Gay Pride event. We are honoured to count amongst our clientele, members of the LGB&T community from Leeds and further afield and in solidarity with these customers and our staff members from the LGB&T community we will not be screening any coverage of the Sochi winter Olympics. </p><p></p><p>In the opinion of the Elbow Room management, various World Leaders and the International Olympic Committee’s stance of burying their heads in sand over such blatantly draconian human rights violations is unacceptable and sends a very confused message to young fans and aspiring athletes. It is our belief that sports role models such as those competing at the games deserve to be free from the interference of politics in sport and as such, free to convey a message of tolerance, understanding and compassion to spectators. We call on those involved in the games and their organisation, as well as the athletes themselves to take all necessary action to highlight this travesty and protest Russia’s laws and lawmakers as well as the IOC who have warned competing athletes about making statements concerning the laws during the games. </p><p></p><p>We believe that civil rights are the right of everyone, and everyone should have the right to exercise those rights proudly. </p><p></p><p></p><p>So the question becomes who will be watching these Olympics?</p>