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Anti-Gay Nigeria Loses
Bid to Host Games
09 Nov
2007- The announcement today that Glasgow beat out Abuja, a Nigerian
city, for the 2014 Commonwealth Games leaves some GLBT activists asking
whether Nigeria’s stance on gay is partly the reason.
Pinknews.co.uk posted
an article today in which it was pointed out that activists in the
African country had wondered before the 47-to-24 vote whether Nigeria’s
human rights record, including its persecution of GLBT people would
factor against that nation.
The vote, which took
place in Sri Lanka, was undertaken by representatives from nations
participating in the Games.
Pinknews.co.uk
reported that last August, a gay Christian organization called Changing
Attitude Nigeria brought an 11-page document to the attention of the
Comomwealth Games Federation during a meeting in London with the Games’
chief executive.
The
group’s founder, Davis Mac-Iyalla, presented the report as evidence for
why Nigeria should not be awarded the Games in 2014, due to its human
right abuses against gays and lesbians.
Article
7 of The Games’ own constitution requires that "there shall be no
discrimination against any country or person on any grounds whatsoever
including race, color, gender, religion or politics,’ reported
pinknews.co.uk.
The
Commonwealth Games Federation also declares on its Web site that three
paramount criteria guide the CGF: "humanity, equality and destiny."
Nigeria’s criminal code falls short of these lofty requirements.
Pinknews.co.uk quoted from Nigerian law, which states that 14-year
prison penalty can be imposed upon those who enjoy "carnal knowledge of
any person against order of nature or permits a male to have carnal
knowledge of him."
Peter
Tatchell, GLBT equality leader with the British group OutRage!, was part
of the delegation that attended the London meeting with the 11-page
report in hand.
Said
Tatchell, "I would love an African country to host the games, but not
Nigeria."
Continued Tatchell, "Awarding Abjua the games would have rewarded bad
governance, grave social injustices and the denial of civil rights to
millions of Nigerians."
Tatchell added, "Nigeria should be offered the 2018 Games, on the
condition that within the next three years it makes serious progress on
eradicating corruption, election fraud and human rights violations."
The
news was met with jubilation elsewhere, as reported today by the British
newspaper The Herald.
First
Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond hailed the vote and promised, "We will
make these Games the greatest sporting event our country has ever seen."
The
Games mean a boost for Scotland, and especially for Glasgow, that
country’s largest city, which will benefit from new facilities and,
after the games, a planned new neighborhood of over a thousand houses,
300 of which would be low-cost housing.
In his
final argument for Scotland as the host of the 2014 Games, Salmond had
told the voting delegation, "Scotland is united behind this bid--every
single political party and every part of the nation," reported The
Herald.
Continued Salmond, "Every Scot is excited by what Scotland can give to
the Games and about what these Games can give to Scotland. And be in no
doubt--Scotland can deliver," with, Salmond said, 70 percent of the
needed infrastructure already present "in bricks and mortar."
Said
Salmond, "Our infrastructure is already well capable of supporting
world-class events."
Declared Salmond, "Delegates, Scotland is ready."
The
delegates agreed, with an overwhelming majority casting their votes for
Glasgow.
Nigerian Olympic Committee Habu Gumel responded to the vote by saying
that he was "devastated," but vowing to resubmit Abuja as a contender
for future Games.
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