Billie Jean King. Photograph by ,a href=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billie_Jean_King_TFF_2007_Shankbone.jpg”>David Shankbone
Barrack Obama has chosen two openly gay sportswomen as part of its team of Sochi Olympic delegates as a statement on equality, and the current repression of homosexuality in Russia.
Tennis great Billie Jean King will join hockey star Caitlin Cahow as part of the US delegation team for the opening and closing ceremonies in Sochi. For the first time since 2000, the delegation will no include a President, First Lady, or former president either, it what many are describing as a snub to the Sochi games over Russia recent overtly anti-gay propaganda.
Whilst Obama did not explicitly mention the actions of the Russian state to exclude gay people in announcing his choices for the delegation spokesman Shin Inouye said the delegation will showcase to the world the best of American “diversity, determination and teamwork”.
Billie Jean King has been a champion of equal rights for everyone over the last few decades, with her defeat of Bobby Briggs proving the quality of female athletes in comparison with their male counterparts. She has regularly spoken out against inequality against women, and gay people, using her position as a sporting celebrity and 39-time grand slam title winner to bring the issue to wider attention.
As the names of the delegates were announced, King said that she was “deeply honoured” to be part of the team, and
“proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi”, hoping that the games will be a “watershed moment” for gay rights.
Russia has said that they will set up public protest zones for people to express their opinions in Sochi, but the IOC has reminded atheletes that Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter forbids demonstrations on Olympic grounds.
