MacShane, Putin and Sochi

I read the comments of British MP Denis MacShane that current Russian Prime Minister Putin should not be welcome at the London Olympics.  I am very disappointed about this.  Mr. MacShane has a history of colorful and outrageous claims, so this appears to be a move to grab headlines for political gain.

Mr. MacShane compares his stand to Margaret Thatcher's towards the Moscow Olympics in 1980.  This betrays his Cold War mentality.  The Soviet Union no longer exists.  And Russian citizens enjoy freedoms that Soviet citizens never had.  Russian citizens vote, they own property and businesses, they are free to express their opinions ( I see this every day on the streets and online).  They have international passports and are free to travel abroad.  

Of course, the Olympic boycott in 1980 had no effect other than to disappoint thousands of athletes and millions of spectators.  

Never mind this, Mr. MacShane seems to say.  He seeks to politicize several well-known deaths and to place blame at the feet of Mr. Putin.  Mr, Putin is not a dictator and he does not know and control all.  On the contrary, there are many competing interests in this country.  Russia is not the only nation with perceived shortcomings, it is just the one most frequently pointed to.  For instance, many in Russia viewed the United Kingdom's participation in the invasion of Iraq and the resulting calamity for its people as illegal and immoral.  However, the Olympic Games in London are going on with Russian participation, despite hundreds of thousands of deaths and refugees.  Russian authorities rightly concluded that the Olympic movement is above politics.  

Watching events unfold here in Sochi, I see that Russia is doing all in its power to assure the best and safest possible Olympic experience for athletes and spectators from around the world.  The Olympic Village and Mountain Cluster will have the most compact design ever and will be the most technologically advanced of any of the Olympic Games.  Russia is building a world class mountain resort and venues for international competitions for years to come.  I hope the world focuses on that rather than Mr. MacShane and his divisive comments.