Daley unconcerned about competing in Russia

LONDON (Reuters) - British diver Tom Daley is not concerned about competing in Russia despite the country’s anti-gay stance and has no plans to make a political protest ahead of next year’s World Aquatic Championships in Kazan.

Daley unconcerned about competing in Russia

(Reuters)





Daley, who won a bronze medal in the men's 10 metre platform at the London 2012 Olympics, announced last year he was dating a man.

Russia has come under heavy international criticism for a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors.

Protests marred the build up to this year’s Sochi Winter Olympics, but speaking at the Leaders in Sport Convention at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Daley said his sole focus is on competing.

“I go to competitions to dive, I have no concerns about going to Russia,” Daley said. “I have been there five or six times before and never had any problems. You go there to dive, you don’t go there thinking about doing anything other than that.

"For me I wouldn't be going there thinking 'I've got to do this (protest) - I just go there and focus on my performance."

Daley, the youngest Briton to win a senior world diving title at the age 15, announced on YouTube last year that he was dating a man and the 20-year-old said he has received an encouraging response from the sporting world.

“It was a life decision to make, it wasn’t a business to make,” he said. “Going in to it I had no idea what effect it was going to have.

“I have been very lucky that we spoke to our sponsorship partnership before the video went out and everyone was so supportive.

“The amount of messages and people wishing me all the best has been overwhelming and it’s great to think that in this day and age people are dealing with it. In sport it’s not very often that you get that.”

Daley said gay men or women in sports such as soccer should not have any issues about coming out.

“I think people will be surprised how supported they would be if they came out in a football environment,” he said.

“You don't have to do a YouTube video and announce that you're straight. It shouldn't be anyone's business.

"You should just be able to live your life the way you want to live it.”





(editing by Justin Palmer)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world