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Gay rights record
threatens Nigerian bid for Commonwealth Games
18 May 2007- Debate is taking
place over whether or not Nigeria should host the 2014 Commonwealth
Games. The Nigerian city of Abuja is in direct competition with Glasgow
to host the international sporting competition.
Nigeria's poor gay rights record, however, has thrown its application
for the games into question.
The Commonwealth Games was founded under its original name, the British
Empire Games, in 1930. The Games are held every four years, giving
around 5,000 athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations to compete in
Olympic sports.
The Commonwealth Games Federation constitution dictates that "there
shall be no discrimination against any country or person on any grounds
whatsoever including race, colour, gender, religion or politics" in
Article 7.
The CGF website also claims that "Underlying every decision made by the
CGF are three core values - HUMANITY, EQUALITY AND DESTINY."
Nigerian law directly contradicts this, stating that anyone who has
"carnal knowledge of any person against order of nature or permits a
male to have carnal knowledge of him" can be imprisoned for 14 years.
The Nigerian government is also in the process of bringing in the Same
Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, under which anyone who "performs,
witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage" or is
involved "publicly or privately in positive representation of or for
same sex relationships" can be imprisoned for five years.
Sharia law is upheld in many northern states of Nigeria. This dictates
that gay people should be stoned to death.
Though Abuja is not one of these states, the issue has still given cause
for concern.
Mike Hooper, the chief executive of the CGF told The Guardian
that the matter will be dealt during the selection process.
He said: "As to the final decision-making of our membership and whatever
issues they take into account and how they cast their vote - that is a
matter for them."
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, told The Guardian
: "The games is meant to be a celebration of high ideals as well as
sportsmanship."
"To invite people to a country where they are liable to be imprisoned
seems inimical to any claim they're keen to engage them in competitive
sport."
The Commonwealth Games Evaluation Commission is will visit both cities
next month to inspect the facilities and venues put in place for the
2014 event. The team are expected in Abuja on 4th June and Glasgow 10th
June.
The winning bid will be announced in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo on
November 9, 2007.
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