Google takes stand against anti-gay law at Sochi Winter Olympics

By Jessica Guynn

Feb. 6, 2014 5:03 PM PT

SAN FRANCISCO -- On the eve of the 2014 Sochi Olympics opening ceremony, Google took a very public stand against Russian anti-gay law and discrimination.

The Internet giant is displaying a Google doodle on its homepage of athletes in the colors and pattern of the rainbow gay pride flag. Click on the image and you are taken to the search results for “Olympic Charter.”

Google put this excerpt from the Olympic Charter on its homepage:

“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

Google also changed its homepage in Russia.

A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.

The move follows news that three sponsors of the U.S. Olympic Committee -- AT&T, DeVry University and yogurt maker Chobani -- had also taken public stands against the law.

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