The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon made a speech to the International Olympics Committee on the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics criticizing the prejudice and violence against homosexuals in Russia, the Associated Press reported.
"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," Ki-Moon said during the speech, according to the AP.
Russia's anti-gay law has brought negative attention to the country hosting the international games leading President Vladimir to soften his tone against the homosexual community, the AP reported.
Ben also cited the numerous athletes of all sexual orientations who have spoken out against the anti-gay law deeming it discriminatory and prejudice, according to the AP.
A video compilation was uploaded on YouTube by the Human Rights Watch which was made of numerous different videos showing homosexuals being beaten, bullied and chased, the AP reported. The videos were mostly uploaded by the perpetrators themselves.
"Hatred of any kind must have no place in the 21st century," Ban said during the speech, the AP reported. "The Olympics show the power of sport to bring together individuals regardless of age, race, class, religion, ability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity."
Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, argued that he and Putin have guaranteed their will be no discrimination of any kind during the games, according to the AP.
"I can assure you the International Olympic Committee has undertook everything and we have all the assurances that the Olympic Charter will be fully applied in this Olympic Games, including the fundamentals of Principle 6, because this is what sport is standing for," Bach said, the AP reported.
"It is standing for respect and it is standing against any form of discrimination," he added, speaking to Ban.
