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Russian Gays Plan ‘Pride House’ During Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
 Letters of intent sent to the International Olympic Committee and Russian Organisers

MOSCOW, August 7, 2010 (GayRussia)  –  A “Pride House” is planned for the 2014 Winter Olympics scheduled to be staged in Sochi, it emerged last night.

The first Pride House was a successful feature of the Vancouver Winter Olympics held earlier this year.

Already the ‘Pride House’ concept figures in the plans by the London Summer Olympics in 2012.

“The idea of Pride House received great support from gay activists around the world and we believe that we have to continue this tradition in Sochi after Vancouver and London,” said the chief organiser of Moscow Pride, Nikolai Alekseev.

“We are ready to work with the organisers of the Olympics in order to effectively implement this project,” he added.

Mr Alekseev returned this week from Vancouver where he was a Grand Marshall of Vancouver Gay Pride.  During his stay he also visited near-by Whistler, gaining first-hand information of the ‘Pride House’ concept.

He also got support from Canadians for the project to feature a ‘Pride House’ in Sochi.

A letter of intent has been sent to both the International Olympic Committee and the Russian Olympic Committee.

It is planned that the Russian ‘Pride House’ will include an exhibition of the history of the LGBT movement in Russia, film screenings and human rights seminars.  Information material on homophobia in sport will also be available.

Mr. Alekseev added: “The problem of homophobia in sport is real and not only in Russia.  The Olympicsare regularly attended by hundreds of gay and lesbian athletes who are forced to hide their sexual orientation by fear of the damage it could make on their career.”

He  expressed confidence that “this initiative will help to bring more tolerance in sport – and not only in Russia”.

The Sochi Winter Olympics take place from February 7 to 23, 2014.

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