The International Olympic Committee’s adoption of special protections for homosexuals opens the door from discrimination against religious athletes, charges a Christian minister.
“What about Christian athletes and coaches who believe homosexuality is a sin?” asked Steve McConkey of the 4 Winds ministry, which runs the Track and Field Report, among other sites.
“Will they be persecuted for their beliefs if they state this in public? The IOC should do what they require the Olympic athletes to do – stay out of politics,” he said.
“Gay” advocacy organizations hailed the newly adopted change in the IOC charter as a “great step forward.”
The organization’s foundational document now states the Olympics will operate without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
McConkey said the issue was in the headlines recently because of Russia’s treatment of homosexuals before the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
“I believe that Russia overstepped its boundaries when targeting homosexuals,” McConkey said.
Hollywood personalities, including Cher and Madonna, criticized Russia for imposing fines on people deemed to have been distributing “pro-gay” information to minors.
Olympic officials said the new policy will be part of any future contract for sites where Olympic competitions are held.
A pro-“gay” group called All Out said in a statement the committee should have gone further and protected individuals based on “gender identity.”
McConkey said the goal of the change apparently is to stop bullying of homosexuals.
But he worries it will allow the IOC to target Christian athletes and coaches.
McConkey has battled the International Olympic Committee since 2003, when he was the only sports minister publicly protesting its decision to allow transgender athletes in the Olympics.
Ten years later, he stood against the U.S. Olympic Committee when it became the first to pass LGBT non-discrimination policies in response to Russia’s actions in Sochi.
He said giving special rights to transgenders in sports has become a trend, pointing out that Minnesota recently became the 33rd state to approve of transgenders in high school sports, allowing a male to compete as a female.
