http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/07/16/married-olympians-we-cant-live-together-during-games-but-gay-couples-can/
LONDON (CBSDC) — An Australian Olympic married couple claims they have been prohibited from sharing a room in the London Olympic Village, even though gay couples are reportedly allowed to do so. (What?)
Olympic
shooters Russell and Lauryn Mark told news.com.au that
they are being discriminated against by officials.“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 Mark told news.com.au. Lauryn
Mark additionally told the website that the Australian Olympic
Committee has not helped them with their situation.“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 told news.com.au. “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. ”Nick
Green, head of mission for the Australian Olympic Committee, told the
London Evening Standard that the Marks are not being discriminated
against.
“Accommodation
and bedding are done in a particular way to ensure all the athletes
are accommodated in the village,” Green told the Evening Standard. The
couple has previously come under fire for Russell Mark’s claims
that sleeping pills help him, as well as for Lauren Mark’s
provocative photo shoot showing her in a bikini on the cover of a
magazine.The
two will still take part in
the Olympics despite not being able to live together during the
games.