Gerhard Heiberg Concerns over Russia's anti-gay 'propaganda' laws have been discussed by the organisers of next year's Sochi Winter Olympics and the event's sponsors who are becoming "afraid" of damage to their reputations. Laws prohibiting discussion of homosexuality and gay visibility anywhere they can be seen by minors have outraged gay and human rights activists around the world. The United Nations has also expressed concern. Now the Olympics sponsors may be becoming nervous over the effect of associated with the Sochi games might have on their branding and images. "There has been a lot of discussion and I am pushed by several sponsors about what will happen with this new law in Russia," IOC marketing boss Gerhard Heiberg has apparently advised Sochi Games boss Dmitry Chernyshenko. "Especially the American sponsors are afraid of what could happen. This could ruin a lot for all of us," Heiberg is quoted as saying. Olympic and Sochi games sponsors include General Electric, McDonalds, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung, Visa, Volkswagen and Yamaha.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 9th September 2013 - 11:01am