RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS - Austrian ski jumper and gay rights advocate Daniela Iraschko-Stolz says public reaction to a Russian law banning homosexual propaganda among minors had been exaggerated

Record ID: 278044

  • Title: RUSSIA: WINTER OLYMPICS - Austrian ski jumper and gay rights advocate Daniela Iraschko-Stolz says public reaction to a Russian law banning homosexual propaganda among minors had been exaggerated
  • Date: 9th February 2014
  • Summary: ROSA KHUTOR, RUSSIA (FEBRUARY 9, 2014) (REUTERS) SIGN READING "AUSTRIA TIROL HOUSE" ON AUSTRIAN TEAM HOUSE AUSTRIAN SKI JUMPERS DANIELA IRASCHKO-STOLZ AND CHIARA HOLZL ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS CLOSE OF IRASCHKO-STOLZ MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN SKI JUMPER DANIELA IRASCHKO-STOLZ SAYING: "No, on
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAP6W4LR8P09WXPU8HYZFEDA57
  • Story Text: Austrian ski jumper and gay rights advocate Daniela Iraschko-Stolz said on Sunday (February 9) that public reaction to a Russian law banning homosexual propaganda among minors had been exaggerated and said she wanted to focus on sport.
    Thirty-year-old Iraschko-Stolz married her lesbian partner last year, becoming a rare Austrian athlete to come out openly as gay. Stolz is her partner's surname.
    Russia has come under heavy international criticism for a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors.
    Asked whether she was worried about the law, Iraschko-Stolz replied: "No, on the contrary, I think that it has been blown out of proportion compared to what it is. I had a very good welcome like every other athlete. There were absolutely no problems. Naturally you have to look at it from a different point of view and always be critical, but especially in my situation I don't want to talk too much about it. I only want to focus on sports and I think if you're tolerant towards everyone else they treat you the same way and it gives you a lot of joy. I think you can make a statement by jumping well."
    Moscow says the law is needed to defend young people but activists say it is fuelling anti-gay violence in Russia.
    Iraschko-Stolz dominated the three jumps in the first training session on Saturday (February 8) night, coming first in two and second in the other. She slipped and fell at the end of the second jump but said she had only slightly injured her hand.
    Women's ski jumping is making its first appearance at a Winter Games, thanks in part to a decade-long pressure campaign by female athletes and their backers.

    "I am very very happy that we can be part of it, the atmosphere is fantastic, living in the Olympic village is better than what I could ever imagine. Now I am living like in a fairy-tale, because as a child I've always wanted to take part in the Olympic Games and finally it is happening now, when I am 30, it is hard to believe, but it is the way it is and every day when I wake up - I am still here which means it is true," said Iraschko-Stolz.
    The Austrian athlete was one of 15 women jumpers who unsuccessfully sued the organisers of the 2010 Games in a bid to be allowed to compete.
    At the end of the news conference answering reporter's question whether she ever felt her fight for making female ski jumping Olympic sport would not succeed Iraschko-Stolz replied:
    "Yeah, at the end of every month.... because I need to talk to my mother to send me some money."
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