Russia’s anti-gay rhetoric will make future generations cringe

It is about human rights. It is about the Olympic charter. But ultimately, it is about being on the right side of history.

Yelena Isinbayeva has explained that her rather revealing comments demeaning same-sex relationships were a casualty of speaking in English, rather than Russian – her mother tongue. There was no “sorry”, but a statement via track and field’s governing body, the IAAF.

And one wonders if her sponsors may have had a quiet word in her ear too. For while anti-gay rhetoric may sadly be widespread and increasingly common in Russia, much of the rest of the world has or is moving on.

Which is why this is important. Russia hosts the winter Olympics and Paralympics in a few months’ time, and the World Cup in 2018.

Now the International Olympic Committee is pretty used to being between a rock and a hard place. Sport and politics don’t mix, runs the standard “We’re just here to compete” position.

The implicit message is that pushing back the frontiers of global sport is good for athletes – but it also helps break down political and cultural barriers. What you might call human progress.

And let’s face it, the Olympic movement has survived boycotts and protests before. But it and the International Paralympic Committee have written to the Russian government seeking clarification on how the new somewhat Orwellian “anti-gay propaganda law” will affect their athletes.

Because some athletes have noted that wearing a rainbow badge indicating solidarity with their gay friends and colleagues could now land them in jail.

Race, gender or sexuality – core human rights – haven’t been at issue in an Olympic host country for some decades. And Isinibayeva (pictured above) is an Olympic youth ambassador and due to be mayor of the Olympic village for the Sochi games. People listen to what she has to say.

The IOC says it takes Isinbayeva’s assurances at face value – that she is “opposed to any discrimination against gay people”.

But her sorry isn’t enough to silence the critics. A senior figure in her sport, many want her role to be given to someone else.

British heptathlete Louise Hazel says: “We want more people doing our sport, not less.”  And she’s speaking out not just for her gay friends and colleagues, but basic levels of human decency.

Ideals that may or may not be enshrined in laws, charters, or conventions – but something much more important. What the next generation will think when they look back – and cringe.

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