Rio De Janeiro: John Baird

John Baird: Baird was asked by reporters during a teleconference from Rio de Janeiro about growing calls for a boycott of the 2014 Games in Sochi, according to CBC. "We've got an important opportunity for the free world to be able to put the focus on what's happening in Russia in recent weeks and months and hopefully that can yield a change," he added. Related: IOC wants more reassurance on Russian anti-gay law Related: How not to boycott the Olympic Games Related: Russian sports minister urges critics to 'calm down' Related: Twitter reacts to group's anti-Baird comments Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said he hopes "decency will prevail" when it comes to Russia's anti-gay law, but that despite his concern about Canadians going to the Olympics there, a boycott is not the answer. "We want to see the athletes succeed, and obviously we're in close contact with the Canadian Olympic Committee," Baird said. "I was pleased to see the International Olympic Committee come out and seek further assurances from the Russian Federation in advance of the Games." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.