"It’s Time to Move the Olympics" - George Takei

Love the graphic :)

George Takei of Star Trek fame, and long time supporter and agitator of gay rights, has joined in the chorus of protest from outside Russia. He's calling on the IOC and all to relocate the Sochi games to Vancouver, Canada. Also he hammers the nails in about corporate sponsorship and the damage done to brand names in Sochi. Here's some of what he says:

Many believe that such a call to move the Olympics out of Russia goes too far. Would this be their opinion if the law instead called for the arrest of any Jews, Roman Catholics or Muslims should they display any sign of their religion, such as a wearing a yamaka or praying while facing Mecca? Discrimination in any form is a blight upon the Winter Games, and it must not be tolerated. 

NBC and the corporate sponsors of the Olympics should be paying close attention, too, and should get behind the “Move the Olympics” movement now, while there is still time to do so. If the Winter Olympics proceed in Sochi, Russia, all of the goodwill they have spent millions to build will evaporate in noisy protests, boycotts, and terrible publicity. I personally will be beating this particular drum loudly, as will many other LGBT actors, activists and allies. Trust me, if you are a corporate brand, you do not want to be associated with the Sochi Olympics. 

Nations are not judged merely on their might, but also by how they treat their most vulnerable. Russia’s cynical and deplorable actions against the LGBT community have given license to hate groups within its borders to act with violence and impunity against a group, based solely on whom they were born to love. It now seeks to spread that hate abroad through its tainted Olympics. If Russia hopes to stand with the International Community, it must accept and adopt international principles of equality and non-discrimination. 

There is a petition gathering strength demanding the Olympics be relocated to Vancouver, which played host in 2010. All of the facilities are still in good condition, so this would likely be the easiest of possible alternatives. If you agree, and I hope you do, please take a few moments to sign the petition here. With enough support, maybe the IOC and the sponsors will realize that this is a disaster in the making, and the best course is to move immediately and decisively to relocate the Winter Games of 2014. more
Sign here.

I've said from the start of all of this the other month, that Russia appears to not understand that they are actually part of the world community. If they devolve as they are now into a theocracy from the dark ages, they can't expect to be respected in that world community. For example, Putin used to be a strong type politician, now everyone's just laughing at his stupid antics.