Tom Daley ‘to boycott’ Moscow diving competition over anti-gay laws in Russia

The British Olympic diving star Tom Daley is reportedly planning “to boycott” a diving competition in Moscow later this year over anti-gay laws in Russia.

According to the Daily Star Sunday, a source has said that the 19-year-old Olympic medal winner is withdrawing from the FINA Diving World Series out of principle, despite the fact that it could affect his world ranking.

The source said: “Tom decided to boycott the Russian competition due to their despicable treatment of gay people.

“It’s something he feels really passionately about.

“He knows it could lose him ranking points and money but he wants to take a stand, even if it is just a small one.”

“The last thing Tom wants to do is bring his sexuality into his diving. But he does feel a bigger responsibility to be a role model now since coming out.”

In a five-minute YouTube video last year, the British diving bronze medallist, and star of ITV’s Smash, revealed that he had been in a relationship with a man since Spring 2013.

It is claimed that Tom’s teammates and his boyfriend Dustin Lance Black ­all support his decision.

Our source said: “The last thing Tom wants to do is bring his sexuality into his diving. But he does feel a bigger responsibility to be a role model now since coming out.”

The FINA Diving World Series – which is a competition ­circuit that stops in six countries - is set to take place in Moscow on May 2.

Daley has been hailed by many including Lady Gaga and Clare Balding (among many others), and has been accepted by his grandparents for the announcement.

He was also immortalised in Russian doll form, alongside Sir Elton John, Graham Norton, George Michael and Stephen Fry, in a charity auction.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/09/tom-daley-boycott-moscow-diving-world-series-anti-gay-laws-russia/

    

Good on him!
It's the right thing to do.

Tom is a poor little sod who will regret doing this & when he is older,he will regret having his head twisted by gay millitants as well.

But that's what happens when you are young,idealistic & easily led....He'll regret it.

He is very succesful Shady and will continue to be in spite of this. It is a good way of making a point, his career will not be effected in any lasting way

Shady wrote:Tom is a poor little sod who will regret doing this & when he is older,he will regret having his head twisted by gay millitants as well.

But that's what happens when you are young,idealistic & easily led....He'll regret it.

I agree at the end of the day no one will give a toss if he is there or not anyway..

Even if this does hurt his athletic career, he can always take pride in that he stood against oppression rather than going for personal gain. Very altruistic of him.

Exactly Ben

HF, any contest that takes place without a top athlete in that sport will be considered incomplete, Tom's absence will be noted, and so the point made.

Eilzel wrote:Exactly Ben

HF, any contest that takes place without a top athlete in that sport will be considered incomplete, Tom's absence will be noted, and so the point made.

absolute rubbish, top athletes miss events all the time, they pick and chose to suit training timing and all sorts of things...no point will be made and he will not be missed.

Eilzel wrote:Exactly Ben

HF, any contest that takes place without a top athlete in that sport will be considered incomplete, Tom's absence will be noted, and so the point made.

Well done to the lad and of course you are correct in that there will always be questions asked whether the winners would have won when a top athlete in the event did not take part.

Happened in Moscow when Alan Wells won gold in the 100m.

Irn Bru wrote:

Eilzel wrote:Exactly Ben

HF, any contest that takes place without a top athlete in that sport will be considered incomplete, Tom's absence will be noted, and so the point made.

Well done to the lad and of course you are correct in that there will always be questions asked whether the winners would have won when a top athlete in the event did not take part.

Happened in Moscow when Alan Wells won gold in the 100m.

rubbish there will be no questions asked at all, athletes chose their events to suit themselves based on timing and importance.

Tom not taking part will bring this matter into the spotlight again, when the olympics would have started to fade.

The Russians need to learn that this matter is never going to go away and that there will be no let up in the fight against their oppression of gay people.

heavenly father wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

Eilzel wrote:Exactly Ben

HF, any contest that takes place without a top athlete in that sport will be considered incomplete, Tom's absence will be noted, and so the point made.

Well done to the lad and of course you are correct in that there will always be questions asked whether the winners would have won when a top athlete in the event did not take part.

Happened in Moscow when Alan Wells won gold in the 100m.

rubbish there will be no questions asked at all, athletes chose their events to suit themselves based on timing and importance.

Now it just sounds like you're trying to reassure yourself  ::roglol:: ::roglol:: ::roglol:: 

Catman wrote:Tom not taking part will bring this matter into the spotlight again, when the olympics would have started to fade.

The Russians need to learn that this matter is never going to go away and that there will be no let up in the fight against their oppression of gay people.

Trouble is, the Russians don't give a shit. They're decades behind western democracy in loads of things. It'll all take time.

Tess. wrote:

Catman wrote:Tom not taking part will bring this matter into the spotlight again, when the olympics would have started to fade.

The Russians need to learn that this matter is never going to go away and that there will be no let up in the fight against their oppression of gay people.

Trouble is, the Russians don't give a shit.  They're decades behind western democracy in loads of things.  It'll all take time.

I never said that things would change over night, the pressure has to be constant on them though, then eventually things will change for the better.

What I find disappointing is the sheer lack of people boycotting.

Tess. wrote:

Catman wrote:Tom not taking part will bring this matter into the spotlight again, when the olympics would have started to fade.

The Russians need to learn that this matter is never going to go away and that there will be no let up in the fight against their oppression of gay people.

Trouble is, the Russians don't give a shit.  They're decades behind western democracy in loads of things.  It'll all take time.

Some of them don't care -- I wouldn't say that about, say, Pussy Riot, for example, though.

Here in the States, in 2000, a poll was conducted as to whether gay marriage should be legal. 34 percent said it should be legal, 51 percent said it should not be (according to the Associated Press).

Last July, CBS News asked the same thing. 55 percent said gay marriage should be legal, 39 percent said it should not.

Scotland's same-sex marriage bill is passed

4 February 2014 Last updated at 18:49

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25960225

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

rubbish there will be no questions asked at all, athletes chose their events to suit themselves based on timing and importance.

Now it just sounds like you're trying to reassure yourself  ::roglol:: ::roglol:: ::roglol:: 

not at all it's a simple fact..

heavenly father wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

heavenly father wrote:

rubbish there will be no questions asked at all, athletes chose their events to suit themselves based on timing and importance.

Now it just sounds like you're trying to reassure yourself  ::roglol:: ::roglol:: ::roglol:: 

not at all it's a simple fact..

Sure, we'll wait and see whether "nobody" questions whether not having an elite swimmer in a race undermines the legitimacy of it -- it appears several already have :D