Sochi Olympics: Journalist Gets Critical Letter From Nutty-Sounding Reader Shock!

Following my piece in The Independent last weekend on Russia's anti-gay laws brought in for next year's Winter Olympics ("For Sochi the future is gay whether Putin likes it or not") comes an astonishing missive from a Russian source – hopefully unofficial – suggesting that their Foreign Ministry has permanently banned me from entry into the country.

I am described as a "Pathological Russophobe" and listed as such in a pictorial rogues' gallery alongside Boy George, Stephen Fry, Peter Tatchell and a host of international luminaries. Well, sorry to disappoint you, tovarich, but I actually love Russia. I have enjoyed visiting several times, even though before the Moscow Olympics they tried to confiscate a sports magazine in which I interviewed Sebastian Coe as "bourgeois propaganda" and bugged our rooms.

I have always found Russian sportsfolk helpful and hospitable, and oppose any proposed boycott over Sochi as fiercely as I did over those Summer Games 33 years ago. Mind you, now I might think twice before accepting any invitation to a cup of Earl Grey at Mayfair's Millennium Hotel with one of their diplomats.

The Independent.

It's rather obviously unofficial, Alan.

PS Current Google News search results for stories that mention 'Sochi Olympics gay'.... 17,500.
Roughly, that's over 500 a day.
Rational media or mass hysteria?