On the eve of the XXII Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Google is taking a stand for athletes, gay, straight, or otherwise, with a new doodle on the Internet search engine's website. The logo is a harsh critique of the Russian government, which is currently hosting the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi.
The page now shows a winter sports competitor above each of the six letters in the U.S. Internet giant's name, set against backgrounds in the six colors on the gay pride flag - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
The international outcry over the law, signed by Putin last year, threatens to undermine his hopes of using the Games to portray Russia as a modern state that has come a long way since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights organization, praised Google for what it called a move to show solidarity with LGBT Russians and visiting athletes.
A piece of the Olympic Charter is quoted beneath illustrations of several Winter Olympic sports:
"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."
"Google has once again proven itself to be a true corporate leader for equality," HRC President Chad Griffin said.
Five things you need to know about the doodle
1. Google is One of Many Websites Taking a Stand Against Russia
2. The Olympic Charter was Written in 2013
3. LGBT People in Russia are Violently Repressed
4. The United Nations Secretary-General Issued a Statement
Many professional athletes, gay and straight, are speaking out against prejudice. We must all raise our voices against attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people. We must oppose the arrests, imprisonments and discriminatory restrictions they face.
The United Nations stands strongly behind our own 'free and equal' campaign, and I look forward to working with the IOC, governments and other partners around the world to build societies of equality and tolerance. Hatred of any kind must have no place in the 21st century.
5. President Obama Would Not Go to the Olympics
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