US Not to Boycott Sochi Olympic Games – Ambassador McFaul

MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - The United States will not boycott the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia in light of the recently adopted Russian legislation banning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships toward minors, the US ambassador said Wednesday.

US athletes should not fall victim to politics, Ambassador Michael McFaul told the Dozhd TV channel as Russia is preparing to host the Olympics, due in February in the southern Black Sea resort of Sochi.

A number of US senators have proposed boycotting the Sochi Games. At an August press conference, US President Barack Obama spoke against such a boycott despite his negative attitude toward the new Russian law he said he was "offended" by.

Although the Kremlin maintains that the law does not prevent adults from making their own sexual choices, critics describe it as a state-supported crackdown on gay people.

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