Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi: Putin shows conciliatory gesture

Just in the last few days and weeks, various high-ranking Western politicians had turned down the Winter Olympics in Sochi. First and foremost, German President Joachim Gauck had refused to travel to Sochi and was quoted as saying that he did not want to give Putin the feeling that he supported his behavior with regard to human rights. The Vice-President of the European Commission joined this "Olympic boycott" with reference to Russia's human rights situation. The French President also rejected the idea. The American president said that he would not send any high-ranking politicians to Sochi, that this had not been planned at all, but without alluding to the human rights situation. In the eyes of Western politicians, Russia is criticized for its anti-homosexual law, among other things. Whether it is right to use the Winter Olympics for political influence is certainly questionable from a sporting point of view. Sport should have nothing to do with politics.

Pardon seen as conciliatory gesture to the West
After Russia's Duma passed a mass amnesty, Putin surprisingly announced at a press conference the next day that he would pardon the imprisoned Mikhail Khodorkovsky, considered a political prisoner in the eyes of the West. The imprisoned Pussy Riot and Greenpeace activists were also to be released. No sooner said than done. One day later, on Dec. 20, 2013, Khodorkovsky was released from the prison camp, and he in turn immediately traveled to Germany. From the West, Putin's behavior is seen as a conciliatory gesture, as an attempt to appease Western politicians again, because the success of the Winter Olympics is supposedly a great personal concern for him. Especially in the recent past, the political boycott threatened to get out of hand and overshadow everything else surrounding the Winter Olympics.

Sport and politics
At his first press conference after his release, the freed Khodorkovsky said that the Winter Olympics in Sochi should not be boycotted, that this was about sport and not politics. This attitude is almost admirable in view of his trial and his 10-year prison sentence (unjust in the eyes of the West), one would have understanding for any desire for revenge and any call for boycott from him in his situation. But he is right, because he thinks and acts like someone who lives for sport. Under no circumstances should the Sochi Winter Olympics be misused for political purposes, otherwise the Olympics run the risk of losing international prestige and importance, which could cause lasting damage to the sport. The Winter Olympics in Sochi should be dedicated solely to sport. It is therefore not surprising and probably right that neutral Switzerland with its two Federal Councillors Didier Burkhalter and Ueli Maurer will be present in Sochi, even if there are different (pro and con) opinions from different political camps. Sport must not become the plaything of political power games, otherwise it will be buried. Nevertheless, one can already be curious about the next reactions and actions.