Olympic updates

The winter games are about 5 weeks away now. There are a few updates/news items to add.

In 2013 Russia adopted anti-gay laws. The laws were adopted in June and signed by President Putin.
The law bans any pro gay activities(propaganda). Openly gay athletes cannot promote gay rights and anyone connected to the gay rights movement cannot wear buttons or stickers. According to the law fines will be imposed for holding gay rights rallies. The IOC has had to walk a fine line between the rest of the world and Russia. The IOC has asked the Russians to uphold the rights of the athletes while the Russians ask the athletes to respect the laws of its country.
The USA will not be sending a President and or Vice President to the Sochi games for the first time since 2000 in protest to the anti-gay laws. Instead the USA's delegation will send three openly gay athletes to Sochi. The gay athletes who will go to Sochi are: figure skater Brian Boitano, tennis star Billie Jean King and Olympic hockey medalist Caitlin Cahow.

Also, 2010 Olympic champion figure skater Evan Lysacek has suffered a torn labrum in his left hip and cannot compete in the 2014 winter games in Sochi. Lysacek was told by doctors that to train with the injury could cause serious damage to his hip and to stop training. Lysacek also suffered an abdominal tear the season before. Lysacek had competed in the 2006 games and finished fourth. This would have been his third straight Olympic games. Only two other American athletes had competed in three straight Olympics, Brian Boitano, 1984, 1988, and 1994, and Todd Eldredge, 1992, 1998, and 2002.

Only 36 days until the Sochi games!