Joachim Gauck, the president of Germany, confirmed that he will not attend the Sochi Olympics.
A report in the Associated Press said that Gauck was skipping the Games as a boycott. The president has been critical of Russia’s human rights record.
However, on Sunday, a spokesperson for Gauck said his decision was not a "boycott." The spokesperson added that previous German presidents have also skipped Winter Olympics.
Heads of state traditionally travel to the start of the Olympics as a diplomatic gesture.
IIHF, NHL Inspect Sochi
Representatives from the NHL, the National Hockey League Players Association, and the International Ice Hockey Federation held a site visit in Sochi last week.
The inspectors spent four days in Sochi from Dec. 2 to 6.
A statement on the IIHF website says the team was "mostly there to work on the final details and roads."
Since last April’s test event, the IIHF said some changes were made to the Bolshoi Ice Dome and Shayba Arena, the two competition venues.
"Changes were made mostly to the interior to make the arenas ready for the bigger amount of people, players, and technical demands during the Olympics," the IIHF post said.
Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in Russia.
IOC Drafting Letter to Athletes on Protests
The IOC is finalizing a letter to athletes, informing them of rules relating to protests during the Games.
IOC president Thomas Bach made the announcement in an interview with the Associated Press saying the letter would remind them that protests are forbidden at the Olympics.
"We will give the background of the Rule 50, explaining the interpretation of the Rule 50 to make the athletes aware and to assure them that the athletes will be protected," Bach said.
The IOC Executive Board must approve the letter at its meeting in Lausanne this week.
Written by Ed Hula III.
Homepage photo from RIA Novosti.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
