Talk of Sochi boycott

There is more talk about a possible U.S. boycott of the Sochi Olympics. This time, it’s over Russia’s decision to give NSA leaker Edward Snowden asylum. Friday, Russia’s sports minister said it would be “stupid” to allow Snowden’s asylum to interfere with the 2014 Winter Olympics. Snowden is wanted on espionage charges for leaking classified information about U.S. surveillance programmes. Earlier this week, the U.S. olympic committee said it opposed any boycott of the games. But, the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Canada also boycotted those olympics. And Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says he’s not impressed with Russia’s decision on Snowden’s asylum.

There were already calls to boycott the Olympics over Russia’s anti-gay law, which an official says will be enforced during the games. An International Olympic Committee presidential candidate says the Olympic body should do what it can to ensure athletes will be protected. He also says it should be a condition in the future that any city seeking to host the Olympics should not have any laws that discriminate against people.