For years in Russia there has be a dramatic and shocking decrease in human and civil rights to Russian civilians of all demographics.
Politicians brave enough to speak out against Putin and his 14 year long run as President and/or Prime Minister of Russia and former leadership of United Russia are arrested under falsified and trumped charges and are lost into the Russian prison system.
LGBT Groups are in a political war with Russian politicians leading to government sponsored bloodshed, hate crimes, and repression of this minority. This issue has only escalated for the severe worst in recent weeks.
While it is a massive sacrifice for our athletes, who will lose years of their lives to training in vain, the rampant and growing violations of Human Rights in Russia cannot be overlooked.