IOC will ask U.N. members for an Olympic truce during 2014 Sochi Games

Politics and the Olympics have always made for an uneasy pair.

The International Olympic Committee has traditionally tried to keep a church-state separation but, as a global entity, keeps bumping into government policy.

On Wednesday, IOC President Thomas Bach will address the United Nations to ask for an Olympic truce -- a cessation of all hostility during the 2014 Sochi Games from Feb. 7 to 23. The proposed truce will be introduced by the Russian Federation on behalf of the IOC.

The tradition dates back to the 9th century BC and was reintroduced to the Modern Games in 1992.

Bach also is expected to talk about the futility of Olympic boycotts.

The latter issue is newsworthy if only because there was some talk of a boycott in response to Russia’s controversial new anti-gay legislation. IOC officials have insisted that they cannot dictate law in any host country.

In a recent interview with the Times, former Soviet pole vaulter and current IOC member Sergey Bubka acknowledged that the IOC walks a fine line.

“Of course, we try to keep sports out of politics,” he said. “But you live in this society.”

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