“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,” said Russell Mark, an Australian shooter who will be participating in this year's Olympic games with his wife, Lauryn.
According to Lauryn, she told news.com.au that officials at the Australian Olympic Committee have been no help in resolving the unfair treatment.
“Basically they said if we want to room together we need to check out of the village and go into a hotel at our own expense. It’s not feasible,” she said. “I am very frustrated because in sport there are a lot of same-sex couples and it’s OK to be partners with someone of the same sex, but if you are heterosexual you are penalized.”
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) claims they are not discriminating against the couple.
“Accommodation and bedding are done in a particular way to ensure all the athletes are accommodated in the village,” said Nick Green of the AOC to the Evening Standard.
In the past, all men and women were separated in the Olympic Village with cross-gender socializing not permitted in individual rooms.
The Marks claim the the AOC is retaliating against them because of they criticized the Committee's stance against the use of sleeping pills at the games, and because Mrs. Marks was recently photographed wearing a bikini while toting a rifle.
The sharp-shooting couple says they intend to participate in the games in spite of not being permitted to live togethe during the competition.
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