Sochi athletes should 'speak out, not disrupt', says IOC chief Thomas Bach INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has encouraged Olympic athletes wishing to make any political statement or protest to speak out, rather than upstage a medal presentation at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. This comes as Sochi Mayor Anataloy Pakhamov has re-inflamed the gay rights issue in Russia, telling the BBC that "homosexuals are not acceptable in the Caucasus ... we don't have them in our town." Mr Bach told reporters on the eve of his first Games as president that the IOC would not gag athletes' rights to speak out, but the committee would take action if any protest affected Games competitions or the medal presentation podium. "It is absolutely very clear the Games cannot be used as a stage for political demonstrations, no matter how good the cause may be," Mr Bach told reporters. If so, the IOC will take individual decisions (about punishment). On the other hand, athletes enjoy the freedom of speech. In a press conference if they want to make a political statement they are absolutely free to do so. Mr Bach said he continued to receive assurances from the Russian political hierarchy, including President Vladimir Putin and the organising committee, that the Olympic charter would be respected. "This means at the Games there will be no discrimination for whatever reason, including sexual orientation," Mr Bach said. Mr Bach also sought to allay increasing security fears, saying IOC officials were on the ground in Sochi meeting daily with the organising committee and political authorities. He said the presence of many military in the area wouldn't detract from the sporting spectacle, but would help the athletes and visitors feel secure. Mr Putin has deployed 40,000 military in and around Sochi, including a lockdown of the area, in recent weeks. "We have full confidence in the Russian authorities, it is their responsibility as the host country and we have full confidence in them," Mr Bach said, drawing parallels with the Games experience at Salt Lake City just months after the 9/11 attacks. The Russians have been working with other international services in order to ensure, in particular, the athletes, but also the spectators, can feel safe and secure.