Putin: No discrimination in Sochi

It's now less than three weeks until the Sochi Winter Olympics begin, and preparations have not been without controversy. Russia has come under international pressure since its parliament passed a law last summer outlawing "gay propaganda", and one of the big questions has been how gay athletes and visitors will be treated when they arrive for the games.

Addressing volunteers near Sochi yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed these fears, stating that gay and lesbian visitors won't face prosecution as long as they "leave children in peace".

Becky asked CNN's correspondent Nic Robertson about the response to the President's remarks.

"The issue there of gay people coming to Russia – athletes and visitors – how are they going to be treated? He said they'll be treated properly. But of course there's a real concern here that while President Putin speaks like this many people take that language to sort of conflate his conflating the issue of homosexuality with paedophilia, and it has lead to a rise in abuses of gays in Russia right now."

Nic emphasized the importance of these games for Putin's domestic and international reputation. "A lot rides on this for him."

Becky also asked Nic about the general atmosphere around the city. "It's buzzing. Wherever you go in this city right now workers seem to be trying to get the last of the trees in, fill in the holes in the road, get the ground levelled out straight, put ramps up next to steps – they haven't finished putting on all the handrails if you will. So it really does seem to be a sort of race to get this place ready in three weeks."

Text: Putin says gays 'can feel safe' at Sochi Winter Olympics