Topic - Mario Pescante

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FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2011, file photo, Italian IOC member Mario Pescante attends the opening of the executive board's meeting at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Pescante criticized the United States on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, for including openly gay athletes in its official delegation for next month's Sochi Olympics. &quot;It's absurd that a country like that sends four lesbians to Russia just to demonstrate that in their country gay rights have (been established),&quot; Pescante said at an Italian Olympic Committee meeting in Milan, in comments widely reported by Italian media. (AP Photo/Keystone, Dominic Favre, File)

Senior IOC member criticizes US choices for Sochi

By ANDREW DAMPF - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2009 file photo, President Barack Obama presents the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Billie Jean King, known for winning the famous "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, and championing gender equality issues, during ceremonies at the White House in Washington. King believes standing up to discrimination is the best way to combat it. She will help lead the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremonies at the Sochi Olympics in Russia, which recently passed an anti-gay law. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

IOC member blasts U.S. for gay athletes in Sochi delegation

By Andrew Dampf - Associated Press