The best way to get on the International Olympic Committee is to have one of your ancestors kill a dragon.
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In the middle of the Sochi story, between the Russian officials who want to enforce the country's new anti-LGBT laws during the Winter Olympics and the activists who believe holding the Games in a human-rights-hostile atmosphere is immoral, are the 104 members of the International Olympic Committee. The members of the committee are the ones who chose Sochi as a location, and they're the ones responsible for the security of athletes and staff, the ones who suffer financially in the event of a boycott or sponsor pullouts. And so far, the IOC's reaction to events has been, at best, passive. The group said nothing publicly after the laws were passed and, when pressed in recent weeks, has said it's received assurances from the Russian government that the law won't affect the Games, a statement Russian officials then denied.
What is the IOC? Who are these people who have become so suddenly critical? Well, here are some of them:
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal of the United Kingdom
More commonly known as Princess Anne. Chairs the Hat Committee.
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His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan
On the left; seated behind him are the Countess and Earl of Wessex. Classic night out with the Countess and Earl of Wessex taking place here.
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