'Protest Zone' Announced for Sochi Olympics

Olympians reminded political gestures are against the rules

The International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday concerted efforts to control protests at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, both from attendees at the games and from athletes themselves.

The moves reflect continued negative attention the games are receiving due to Russia's anti-LGBT laws and other treatment of dissidents — actions that have led the German president and a European Union official to announce that they will not attend.

The IOC announced that there will be a "protest zone" during the Sochi Olympics and that it will be reminding athletes before the Olympics begin on Feb. 7, 2014 of the Olympics ban on "propaganda" at the games.