The stance contrasts with that taken by other international figures, who have announced that they will not attend Sochi 2014 in protest of the anti-gay propaganda legislation introduced to the Duma - the Lower House of the Russian Parliament - earlier this year. 

European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding is among those to have confirmed their absence.

It was also revealed yesterday the United States delegation would be led by two openly gay figures, former tennis player Billie Jean King and double Olympic ice hockey medallist Caitlin Cahow.

As well as being interpreted as a direct challenge to Russia's stance on gay rights, it will mark the first time since Sydney 2000 that neither the President, former President, First Lady nor the vice-president has led a US Olympic delegation.

Meanwhile, German President Joachim Gauck and French leader François Hollande will not be travelling to Russia, although neither has categorically said that this is because of the introduction of the law.

However, although Britain does not look any more favourably on Russian laws than their international counterparts, it is understood it believes its strategy of attendance will be a more effective means to voice protests.

Prominent international politicians will not attend Sochi 2014, most notably François Hollande and Barack Obama, but Britain has adopted a different stance ©AFP/Getty Images




British Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue of gay rights with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 leaders summit in September but has repeatedly rejected calls for a boycott.

In response to a call in that regard by broadcaster Stephen Fry, for example, Cameron insisted that, despite sharing a "deep concern about the abuse of gay people in Russia, we can better challenge prejudice by attending rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics".

Changes to Rule 50 of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter, which permit protests by athletes and officials in designated "protest zones", as outlined in a letter sent to National Olympic Committees by the IOC today, can be taken as further justification of this opinion.

Rule 50 had previously read that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted" but, in a departure from past Games, such demonstrations will now be permitted in these designated zones.

British athletes will be able to join in gay rights protests so long as they comply with IOC rules, the BOA has said ©AFP/Getty Images




This news will open up more avenues for national delegations to voice their dissent and thus emphasise the benefits of attending over boycotting.

Britain's position was underlined further by Darryl Seibel, director of communications and Olympic media strategy at the British Olympic Association (BOA), when he described how a "sensible balance" will be adopted in regulating British athletes participation in any protests.

Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the Games, Seibel described how this will involve balancing Russian laws and the Olympic Charter with the principals of free speech.

He added that the BOA "strongly believe that as an Olympic team we should reflect the value of the society that we represent".

In this vein, Seibel emphasised that the BOA will not be imposing restrictions beyond what is imposed in the Charter.

Beyond an unrelated recommendation that athletes should not publically drink alcohol while wearing their Team GB kit, there are no restrictions on clothing worn by athletes. 

This would presumably permit the wearing of pro-gay rights emblems, such as a rainbow pin, by athletes so long as it does not fall foul of the Charter.

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