There’s quite an interesting discussion on Five Live at the moment about this.
The comparatively recent change of law by Russia is disgraceful, no question. It is a real step backwards and someone needs to give that swaggering knucklehead Putin a good slap. The fact that it has been enacted since being awarded the games is even more deceitful.
Matthew Syed makes a good point about how opinion-formers like Stephen Fry do often expect sacrifice from others (boycotting an event you have been living towards for years and may never get to try again), but without any obvious commensurate sacrifice on their own part. Perhaps Stephen Fry should get his accountant to work out how much he has made from sales of his material to Russia, then donate it to a charity of his choosing?
For the record, I am nearly always pro-Fry. He is clearly a very smart cookie and most often seems to be acting for the greater good.
I might suggest that he runs a Geiger counter over his meals from now on, though. 😉
I wonder what other STWers make of this. Is a boycott the best way? Do you achieve more by competing and winning, then using your position to take a stand?