- 4 updates
Day of protests against Russia's 'anti-gay' laws
Human rights groups are holding a day of protests across the globe in a bid to highlight Russia's "anti-gay" laws. The Winter Olympics' opening ceremony gets under way on Friday.
Live updates
Gay rights campaigners protest ahead of Sochi games
Gay rights campaigners have staged protests around the world against Russia's new anti-gay propaganda laws with less than forty eight hours to the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
In Sochi itself, gay people who live there claim they are forced to live secret lives to avoid persecution, as ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott reports:
Tatchell: IOC 'gone along' with Russian anti-gay move
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are complicit in one of Russia's anti-gay measures because they are have "gone along" with the banning of an LGBT "social meeting space", according to a leading gay rights campaigner.
Peter Tatchell told Daybreak the IOC had "allowed the ban to stand" while claiming they were anti-discrimination.
Advertisement
IOC President attacks politicians over Sochi boycott
The President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach has accused world leaders of using the Winter Olympics in Sochi as a political platform "on the backs of the athletes" and snubbing the Games without even being invited.
In a hard-hitting speech, Bach called out politicians for using the Olympics to make an "ostentatious gesture" serving their own agendas.
His comments appeared to be directed at US President Barack Obama and European politicians who have taken stands against Russia's law banning gay "propaganda" among minors.
The Olympics should not be "used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests," Bach said.
"Have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes," he said at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Global 'day of action' against Russia's gay rights record
Russia's "anti-gay" laws will be in the spotlight today with human rights groups holding a global day of action before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Protests against the country's gay rights record will be held in London, Sochi, Moscow and Rio de Janeiro, just a day before events get underway and only 48 hours ahead of the opening ceremony.
There will be a rally outside Downing Street today by group All Out, who will be calling on Olympic sponsors to speak out against homophobia in Russia.