Outspoken Weir Will Be Quiet on Russian Law:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/sport ... .html?_r=0
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Despite his sexual orientation, despite his marriage to a man in 2011, despite his long track record of (not always wisely) saying what is on his mind, Weir said Wednesday that he planned to hold his tongue in Sochi, at least when it comes to speaking out against the Russian law.
“I risk jail time just going there, but the Olympics are not the place to make a political statement,” he said. “I’m not a politician and I don’t really talk about politics. You don’t have to agree with the politics, but you have to respect the culture of a country you are visiting.”
Weir and NBC officials made clear that he was not simply toeing the company line. Jim Bell, the executive producer of NBC’s Olympic coverage, said the network had not — and would not — muzzle Weir....
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The United States Olympic Committee has said it does not agree with the Russian law but has encouraged its athletes to comply with the laws of the country. Weir agrees that there should be separation of politics and sports.
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He plans to tour Russia with the Olympic gold medalist Yevgeny Plushenko after the Winter Games, a few months after Elton John is to perform in Moscow.
“If it’s good enough for Elton John, it’s good enough for me,” Weir said, adding, “Every country’s going to have its issues.”
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