MOSCOW, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Russian Open Games, an athletic event for LGBT athletes that is modeled after the Olympics, is encountering logistical trouble and harassment that its organizers attribute to Russian authorities.
Games organizer Viktor Romanov told The Moscow Times, "One day before the opening ceremony of the Games, almost all the venues where we had planned to hold events refused to host us for various reasons ... I think the authorities are behind this because we can see that lots of resources are being put into trying to prevent the Open Games from taking place."
One hostel in downtown Moscow was pressured by Russian officials not to house gay athletes. One of the hostel's owners, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Moscow Times, "Two police officers came to our hostel and told us that if any participants of the Games were found in our hostel, we would have problems ... They said they would run all kinds of administrative checks on us and close us down."
The logistical hurdles of venue events and housing is jeopardizing the event's success. Organizer Elvina Yuvakevaya acknowledged, "Our situation is ever-changing. ... We sit down every evening to have a look at what venues will be available for the next day. Some participants have not arrived yet and some will most likely not come at all because of these problems."
The Russian Open Games were scheduled for February 26 to March 2, with 350 Russians and 300 foreigners registered.
The opening ceremony was disrupted by an anonymous bomb threat that forced the evacuation of Moscow's Boyz Club.
[The Moscow Times]
