Are Married Olympians Discriminated Against? Couple Forced to Room Separately

By Sami K. Martin, Christian Post Reporter Monday, July 16, 2012

Are married, heterosexual couples being discriminated against by the Olympic committee? One pair of Olympians are crying "foul" in their living arrangements after learning they would be kept from living together during the games, while other, unmarried couples would be able to stay together.

Australian Olympic shooters Russell and Lauryn Mark told reporters they had filed complaint with the Australian Olympic committee as well as the International Olympic Committee. The pair wanted to live together during their time in London but was informed that was not possible due to room assignments and rules.

"The stupid part of this, which I have argued to them, is that there are tons of gay couples on the Olympic team who will be rooming together, so we are being discriminated against because we are heterosexual," Russell told news.com.au.

"Every couple, whether they are married or de facto should have the AOC trying to bend over backwards to accommodate their needs. What I am asking them isn't too hard but it's obvious the AOC have a problem with it," he added.

Yet AOC head of mission Nick Green told the London Evening Standard that the Marks are definitely not being discriminated against.

"Accommodation and bedding are done in a particular way to ensure all the athletes are accommodated in the village," he explained.

Should the Marks decide to stay together in London, they have been told they "need to check out of the village and go into a hotel" at their own expense. "I am very frustrated because in sport there are a lot of same-sex couples … but if you are heterosexual, you are penalized," Lauryn Mark told news.com.au.

So far the couple has not said whether they will stay together or separately, but both intend to compete in London.