Olympics-German President Gauck will not attend Sochi Games
Dec 8 (Reuters) - German President Joachim Gauck will not attend the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia's Sochi in February, his office said on Sunday, with the government's human rights commissioner calling it a "wonderful gesture."
Presidential officials confirmed he would snub Russia's first ever winter Games but did not comment on media reports suggesting he was skipping them over the country's human rights record, saying there was "nothing unusual" about not going.
Gauck, who attended the 2012 London Olympics, has not visited Russia since taking office in 2012.
His decision was welcomed by the German government's human rights commissioner Markus Loening.
"It is important that the world watches and realises the things that are happening in Russia and what a great disappointment to democracy and human rights Russia is," Loening told Reuters.
more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/08/olympics-sochi-germany-idUSL6N0JN0KX20131208
