Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman insists Australia's team for the Sochi Winter Olympics are not under threat despite increased concerns over security.
Belle Brockhoff: "After I compete, I'm willing to rip on his ass. I'm not happy and there's a bunch of other Olympians who are not happy either." Source: Getty Images
SOCHI-bound Australian Winter Olympian Belle Brockhoff says she plans to send a strong, unambiguous message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that she disapproves of Russia's anti-gays laws.
The 21-year-old Victorian snowboard cross rider is the only openly gay athlete on the 56-strong Australian Winter Olympic team.
She has vowed to make her views known before, after and possibly even during her snowboard cross event on Sunday, February 16.
"It's the perfect opportunity to send a message," Brockhoff said.
"The Australian Olympic Committee has been really supportive and they want me to be safe. They don't recommend me waving a [rainbow] flag around which I won't do.
"The most I'll do is hold up six fingers to represent Principle Six. Possibly I'll do it on camera here or there, and maybe after the heats of my event."
Russian President Vladimir Putin talks of his personal feelings towards gay people and welcomes any chance to chat with Elton John. Courtesy: BBC
Principle Six is one of seven Fundamental Principles of Olympism on the Olympic Charter. It states:
"Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."
Two anti-discrimination nonprofit groups have together created the website principle6.org, and Belle Brockhoff appears on the homepage.
The site's organisers are hoping that straight athletes join the six-fingered salute as a show of solidarity.
Brockhoff says she'll do limited interviews before her event, but afterwards will talk to as many people as possible in order to convey her anger towards President Putin.
"After I compete, I'm willing to rip on his ass," she said.
"I'm not happy and there's a bunch of other Olympians who are not happy either."
Brockhoff is one of Australia's best medal hopes in Sochi, and carries a rich snowsports bloodline.
Belle Brockhoff flies through the air, displaying the form that earned her a place on the plane to Sochi. Source: News Limited
Her uncle, Peter Brockhoff competed in Alpine Skiing at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics, while her grandfather Harold Brockhoff was one of the original pioneers of Mt Buller.
Her great aunt, Joyce Brockhoff has a ski hut and a run named in her honour at Mt Hotham in recognition of her work promoting the place of women in snow sport
The run is extremely steep and gnarly, which is exactly how Belle Brockhoff likes her racecourses.
Brockhoff has suffered at least five serious falls in just two seasons on the snowboard cross World Cup circuit. In the latest, in Andorra, she slammed her head on the snow and suffered concussion.
But she's stood on a World Cup podium, which means her best is definitely good enough for an Olympic medal.
"I like going fast," she says. "I love hitting jumps, love pinning it. My advantage above most of the girls is not having fear of the course. I am hardly ever scared before hitting the course."
She's clearly not scared of airing her views either, and whatever happens on snow, Belle Brockhoff is certain to be one of the most in-demand athletes from any country in Sochi.
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