(Updated 16/08/2013 at 16:32 p.m.)
Surprising, Yelena Isinbayeva. In the good sense of the word, as well as in the worst sense. In Moscow, the Russian first woke up the audience at the Luzhniki stadium on Tuesday evening by winning the world title in the pole vault. Masterful. Then she created some discomfort by speaking out about the homophobic law in force in Russia. A speech that sent shivers down your spine.
In essence, the Russian pole vaulter warned the athletes who will participate in the Sochi Games next February that they will have to respect the law of the country. Without exception. By keeping to themselves, therefore, their desire to support the homosexual cause. “We tolerate all opinions and we respect everyone, but in return, these people must respect our laws and not promote the ideas of non-traditional orientations in the streets,” asserted the athlete. Before driving the point home: “The propaganda of non-traditional relationships would be a great sign of non-respect for the citizens of our country and our laws. Anyone who comes for the Sochi Olympics must respect our laws. Men live with women, women with men. »
Yelena Isinbayeva's comments are all the more embarrassing as the pole vaulter has accepted the role of ambassador for the Sochi Games. Next February, she will even be very present during the Olympic fortnight, as mayor of the athletes' village. His statements therefore cast a chill in a debate which seemed, until then, to be moving towards the beginnings of appeasement.
As a reminder, the law promulgated last June by Vladimir Putin penalizes any act of homosexual “propaganda” in front of minors. Foreigners risk a fine of up to 100.000 rubles (2.300 euros), up to 15 days of detention and expulsion from the country. A text deemed discriminatory by human rights defenders and criticized all over the world.
Thursday morning, in Moscow, the Swedish high jumper was the first, and the only one to date, to take advantage of the World Athletics Championships to publicly demonstrate her support for the homosexual cause and her opposition to the Russian anti-gay law. She showed up to the qualifiers showing off her nails painted in the colors of the rainbow flag. A gesture deemed “disrespectful” by Yelena Isinbayeva.
The following morning, the Russian pole vaulter circulated a press release in which she claimed to have been “misunderstood” in her comments on the homophobic law. “I am opposed to any discrimination against homosexuals, which is based on sexuality (which is contrary to the Olympic charter), she wrote. English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday. What I meant was that people should respect the laws of other countries, especially when they are guests. » A clarification which did not convince everyone.
