Visit Google today and you’ll find the familiar logo has had a rather colourful make-over. Featuring a selection of the exciting Winter Olympic sports on offer over the next few weeks including snowboarding, bob-sledding and skiing, this design is not only to celebrate the opening day of the games in Sochi, Russia but the Doodle is also intended as a response to the host country’s restrictive stance on gay rights.
Google is a globally recognised internet and mobile software company which commands millions of users to its search site daily, and today it joins in with a worldwide voice of protest over the government ban on education and information about homosexuality to Russian youth under the age of 18. The issue has become so heated that it’s led to violence and some nations threatening to boycott the games. U.S President Barack Obama will even be noticeably absent from today’s opening ceremony because of the gay rights row.
Today’s Google Doodle is a profound statement and is accompanied by the Olympic Charter which reminds us:
“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”