from James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail,
While Burke opposes a full-on boycott of the Games, he told TSN on Friday that he plans to fulfill his Team USA duties while staging his own personal protest of the new law.
“People should make it known that this type of bias can’t take place,” Burke said. “But I think a boycott is misplaced. A boycott punishes the athletes. If we say we’re not going in the face of these laws, I think that punishes every Canadian, American, Argentinian athlete that’s prepared so hard for these Games. I don’t think it’s appropriate.
“The appropriate measure should be that as long as these laws are on the books, Russia should not be awarded another international competition. In the meantime, they’ve got to guarantee everybody’s safety.”
Burke added that the International Olympic Committee also needs “ironclad” assurances from the Russian government that athletes, staff and fans will be “not only free from harassment but free from any type of prosecution” under those laws.
“I think they’re going to get the assurances they need and make sure that it’s safe for everybody,” Burke said.
You can watch the short TSN segment with Burke here.
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