The lasting legacy of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, likely will much more than who won gold, who had to settle for silver, and who might have been thrilled to grab the bronze. The efforts of athletes from around the world will be reported about, talked about, dissected, analyzed, scrutinized, and more.
But the aspects of these Games that do not award medals will, likely, be the memories of these 22nd Winter Olympics. After the first few days of competition in Sochi, the hot topics have been terrorism, safety, gay rights … and toilets.
Still, the LGBT community had bragging rights early in the games when Ireen Wust, an out bisexual speedskater from the Netherlands, won a gold medal in the women's 3,000 meters event, defeating the defending champion from Czech Republic. Wust, who has won three Olympic gold medals in three Olympic Games ( 2006 and 2010 also ) in speedskating, came out in 2009.
Wust is one of seven out LGBT competitors in Sochi—all women—according to Outsports.com . The others are Belle Brockhoff ( Australian snowboarder ), Anatasia Bucsis ( Canadian speed skater ), Daniela Iraschko-Stolz ( Austrian ski jumper ), Barbara Jezersek ( Slovenian cross crountry skier ), Cheryl Maas ( Dutch snowboarder ), and Sanna van Kerhof ( Dutch short track speedskater ).
Maas had a bold, colorful message, no doubt aimed at Russia's anti-gay propaganda laws. After her second run in the slopestyle event, she showed her gloved hand—covered in rainbows and unicorns.
Meanwhile, Brockhoff, 21, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) that she is concerned about hate crimes targeting Russia's LGBT communities.
"I've seen many documentaries about Russia and some of the violence towards the LGBT community and it's sickening and it's sad," she said told ABC. "It's Putin's country and he can do what he likes with the country, but what I'm worried about is the safety of the LGBT community.
"Obviously, there's a lot of violence, torturing—torturing to death almost—and I'm hoping to see change after these Games."
Austria's Iraschko-Stolz told the Associated Press that protests against Russia's law banning homosexual propaganda aren't worth it because "no one cares."
Iraschko-Stolz, who married partner Isabel Stolz last year, said, "I don't think it's a good idea to make protests here, no one cares. I know Russia will go and make the right steps in the future and we should give them time."
The opening ceremony, on Feb. 7, seemed to be led by a rainbow tribute to gay rights. Greece was the first country to march into the Games during the annual parade of nations because it was the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The Greek delegation wore sky blue pants and jackets, and gloves with five different colored fingers. So speculation ran wildly, and quickly, that it was that team's silent support for gay rights.
In fact, Gregory Pappas, on website Mykonos.com wrote: "Kudos to the Greek Winter Olympic team for showing their Russian hosts the proverbial middle finger with a bright, colorful response to the Russian bigotry towards gays and lesbians. The team that enters the stadium first—out of respect for its country's role in creating the Olympics—showed where the Russians can put their hatred and intolerance. The Greek national team donned their expected blue and white—with the addition of colorful rainbow gloves, showing their solidarity with their gay and lesbian fellow athletes. The rainbow, representing diversity in colors, is the official symbol of the gay and lesbian movement."
But a clarification came quickly. The Greek-worn gloves were, instead, a representation of the Olympic colors, including black, which is not part of the gay pride rainbow. The colorful gloves are for sale in Russia.
Minutes after Greek entered the stadium in Sochi, the U.S. contingent arrived, dressed in white pants and loud blue jackets, featuring stars, stripes, the Olympic rings, a bold USA, and more. Online comments, including a slew from the fashion-conscious LGBT community, immediately bashed maker Ralph Lauren, stating the patriotic outfits were among the worst of all nations.
Also during the opening ceremony, the spectacle featured an embarrassing hiccup when one of five snowflakes failed to open, as planned, into the Olympic rings, forcing organizers to jettison a fireworks display and disrupting one of the most symbolic moments in the opening ceremony. State-run broadcaster Rossiya 1 substituted a shot from a rehearsal with the rings unfolding successfully into its live broadcast.
The glitch turned into a promotional tool for Principle 6, the campaign launched last month in support of the sixth principle of the Olympic Charter that says any form of discrimination "is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."
Principle 6 posted a photo of the rings, including a rainbow-colored fifth ring, with the tag line, "Fifth ring finally comes out!"
The Principle 6 campaign has been ever-present in Sochi, promoting its cause, which states: Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
Hudson Taylor, the staunch, straight LGBT ally, was in Sochi, promoting the Principle 6 campaign. While at the Games, Taylor visited Mayank, one of the only LGBT-friendly bars in the area of Sochi, he wrote on Facebook. "It was amazing to meet the community personally affected by these anti-gay laws." Taylor also posted a photo of himself at the bar.
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ), made a strong statement against "any form of discrimination" and in favor of tolerance during the opening ceremony. Viewers worldwide heard the statement; NBC viewers in the U.S. did not, because the network edited it out, it was reported by Deadspin.com .
The Internet also has been abuzz, since the start of the Games, from LGBT supporters with a catchy parody of Pharrell Williams' "Happy." Producer Tony Mono offered a gay makeover with "Sochi," a tune that slaps at Russia's anti-gay laws and the Winter Olympics.
To view, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYdWTulWx0o#t=29
Another noteworthy Internet sighting since the start of the Games in Sochi is the new, powerful, direct PSA written, co-produced and directed by Michael Rohrbraugh and executive produced by Chris Svoboda. Set to the music of King Arivel, the PSA shows a rugby team torturing a gay couple, representing the climate for LGBT people not just in Russia, but other parts of the world, too.
The Russia Freedom Fund, Athlete Ally, and CoPilot joined the Fair Games Project to help put together the PSA—and the video was viewed more than 235,000 times since its launch on Feb. 6.
To view the PSA: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Dv9uLRLJs
The gay spotlight also shined during the opening ceremony when the Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. performed "Not Gonna Get Us," a song about two schoolgirls in love. t.A.T.u. is known for their pseudo-lesbian act, including lesbian kissing, and more.
