Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd R, front), International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (R, front) and CEO of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin (C, 2nd row) ascend on an escalator during the opening of a railway station in Adler district in Sochi, October 28, 2013. REUTERS/Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti/Kremlin
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, seeking to defuse criticism over his treatment of Russia's gay community, said all people will be welcome in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Triggering angry criticism from the West and even calls to boycott the Sochi games, Russia adopted in June a ban on homosexual "propaganda" among minors, a law denounced by critics as discriminatory and aimed at stifling dissent.
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