Communist Party head shows banner at Sochi games

Associated Press ^ | Feb 22, 2014 1:21 PM EST | Oskar Garcia

[Olog-hai]

The head of Russia’s Communist Party held up a hammer-and-sickle Soviet banner during a flower ceremony at the Winter Olympics, leading to a confrontation with staff over violating Olympic rules that bar political statements at the games.

A series of photographs taken Friday night shows Gennady Zyuganov in a group of five men in the stands displaying the historic Soviet Banner of Victory toward the podium while medals were being awarded in three short track speedskating events at the Iceberg Skating Palace.

The banner was a replica of the flag raised by Soviet soldiers in Berlin in 1945, in victory over Nazi Germany. It is a symbol of victory in World War II under communist leadership, bearing the name of the unit that raised it. …

[Olog-hai]

The AP catches up to a subject the Blaze reported a fortnight ago.

[Howie66]

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in Sochi?

Good place for her.

[goldstategop]

Called the Banner Of Victory. It was considered an enduring symbol of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War.

[newheart]

So they spotted a guy in the crowd with a 4x5 flag, but completely missed this blatantly political (and historically inaccurate) scene from the opening ceremony.:

[Olog-hai]

That’s the AP for you.

[newheart]

Not just the AP, but the Olympic officials themselves:

leading to a confrontation with staff over violating Olympic rules that bar political statements at the games.