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Russia's
gay sports federation members play badminton in a sports hall
outside Moscow,
on November 2, 2013 (AFP/File)
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Moscow — As
badminton players dashed around a court in a sports hall on the edge of Moscow,
nothing appeared out of the ordinary -- except for the banner proclaiming
"Sport against homophobia."
The
organiser of the tournament is Russia's only officially registered gay sports
federation. Its members meet regularly to compete and socialise.
But now it
has a much bigger goal: to hold for the first time a gay sports tournament in
Moscow after Russia hosts the 2014 Olympics in Sochi in February, and attract
major international sports figures to support their cause.
"For
us this is a very large-scale project, we haven't held anything at this level
before," said 33-year-old Elvina Yuvakayeva, the co-president of the
Russian LGBT Sports Federation.
They want
to hold the five-day Russian Open Games between the Winter Olympics and the
Paralympics being held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi so that sports people
and journalists have time to travel to Moscow.
"It's
a gesture... We hope to attract the attention of sports people and those who
are covering the Games in Sochi," said Yuvakayeva, who works at an
engineering company.
But the
event risks being the target of homophobic attacks or a ban, especially after
President Vladimir Putin in June signed a law banning what it says is the
promotion of homosexuality to minors.
The loosely
worded law has prompted outrage among international rights campaigners and
celebrities including Madonna and British comic Stephen Fry.
With events
including tennis, swimming and cross-country skiing, the gay games are being
planned as just a national event with only Russian amateur sports people competing.
The
organisers argue the event would not fall under the controversial law.
"As
for the law on propaganda, we don't invite minors to our events... that
includes the audience, too," said Yuvakayeva, specifying that both
spectators and participants have to register online and confirm they are over
18.
Unlike
street protests, the gay sports federation is not required to clear its events
with the authorities.
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Russia's
gay sports federation members pose for a photo in a sports hall
outside Moscow,
on November 2, 2013 (AFP/File)
|
"I'm
sure we won't have any problems," said the group's co-founder Konstantin
Yablotsky, an openly gay amateur figure skater who teaches chemistry at a
Moscow school.
The
organisers said they were now working on recruiting international stars to
support the gay games, while holding out little hope that Russians would come.
US diving
gold-medallist Greg Louganis, who is openly gay, has promised to come, said
Yablotsky.
"He
personally told me that yes, he will support us."
Yablotsky
said he was also inviting the husband of openly gay US skating star Johnny
Weir, Victor Voronov, who has Russian origins, although it was unclear whether
Weir himself could come.
"I am
negotiating now with his husband, so we hope we will have him here."
No major
Russian sports figures are out of the closet. Pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva
has backed the anti-gay law and called protests against it disrespectful to
Russians.
One gay
Russian sportswoman had previously supported the federation but was then
ordered by her sponsor not to make any comment ahead of the Sochi games,
Yuvakayeva said.
The organisers
also spoke of meeting another well-known Olympic champion who declined to even
discuss her views because she is involved in politics with Russia's ruling
party.
The Russian
LGBT Sports Federation was founded by Yablotsky and Viktor Romanov, a retired
investigator who probed organised crime in the 1990s, after they met at the
international 2010 Gay Games in Cologne.
While
Russia's most high-profile gay activist, lawyer Nikolai Alexeyev, regularly
clashes with the authorities, the sports group takes a much more cautious
approach.
It is
officially registered as a non-profit group that promotes LGBT sport. It
regularly asks the sports ministry and city officials for funding, although it
only receives rejection letters.
"We
want dialogue with the authorities, with NGOs and with the public," said
Yuvakayeva.
"We
want to make an effort to remove the stigma from our community."
Those
playing badminton called the sports group a vital outlet.
Nineteen-year-old
student, Ivan, had made a seven-hour bus journey from the regional city of
Smolensk to attend for the first time.
"I had
to overcome my fears and make a huge effort to come," he said.
"Everyone
here is different, everyone is excellent, and you already don't feel
disadvantaged. You become a person."
"Sport
brings people together so much," said Maria, a 28-year-old Moscow IT
professional.
"I
like that different people come here, socialise and play. It's better than
virtual communication on the Internet," said businessman Yelisei.
All
declined to give their surnames, saying they feared reprisals and because they
are not out to everyone they know.
Several
said they feared trouble over the planned gay games.
Yelisei
said he thought the games should be held in secret, with an announcement after
the fact.
"As
soon as world media notices them, and they are discussed, the authorities will
start asking questions about the activities of the organisers and will do
everything they can to shut them down."
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| The Dutch football boat during last weekend's Gay Pride. Photo: Novum |
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