The United States Olympic Committee rejected the suggestion by Senator Lindsey Graham that the US boycott the 2014 winter Olympic Games in Sochi Russia. The Senator made the suggestion following news Russia might grant temporary asylum to Edward Snowden.
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Graham said by boycotting the 2014 Sochi games the United States would be sending a clear message to Russia. While speaking on The Hill Graham said, "I would just send the Russians the most unequivocal signal I could send them."
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Not everyone agreed with the Senator's belief the US should boycott the Olympics. House Speaker John Boehner does not support the idea of a US Olympic boycott. Boehner said the tensions between the US and Russia over Snowden have nothing to do with the US Olympic athletes. Boehner referred to Graham as being "dead wrong" on this issue. While speaking at a news conference Boehner asked reporters,
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"Why would we want to punish US athletes who've been training for three years to compete in the Olympics over a traitor who can't find a place to call home?"
The Unites States Olympic Committee also agreed that a boycott of the Olympics would not help to resolve any issues between Russia and the US. The Committee also feels punishing America's athletes for something that is out of their control would not benefit the Olympians or the country.
The US Olympic Committee issued a statement saying,
If there are any lessons to be learned from the American boycott of 1980, it is that Olympic boycotts do not work. Our boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games did not contribute to a successful resolution of the underlying conflict. It did, however, deprive hundreds of American athletes, all whom had completely dedicated themselves to representing our nation at the Olympic Games, of the opportunity of a lifetime. It also deprived millions of Americans of the opportunity to take pride in the achievements of our athletes, and in their dedication and commitment, at a time when we needed it most.
The Unites States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics out of protest. The US did not agree with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later in Los Angeles, the Soviet Union led a massive boycott of all Eastern bloc countries from that year's Olympics.
Currently Edward Snowden is still hold up in a Russian airport. He cannot enter the country since he has not yet been offered asylum. The NSA whistleblower is also reaching out to countries in Latin America with asylum requests.
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