LGBT Abuses Cost Nigeria Sporting Event

Glasgow, Scotland was chosen as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games after Changing Nigeria, a group of Nigerian LGBT activists, presented organizers with an 11-page report detailing abuses of gay citizens. Abuju, Nigeria had been a leading candidate, but lost the vote 47-24 at a meeting held in Sri Lanka. Founded as the British Empire Games in 1930, the Commonwealth Games feature competition from 5000 athletes.

British gay activist Peter Tatchell, who accompanied members of Changing Nigeria when they met with the Commonwealth Games Federation, said of the vote, "I would love to see an African country host the games, but not Nigeria. Awarding Abjua the games would have rewarded bad governance, grave social injustices and the denial of civil rights to millions of Nigerians. Nigeria should be offered the 2018 Games, on the condition that within the next three years it makes serious progress on eradicating corruption, election fraud and human rights violations."

According to Nigerian law, anyone who has "carnal knowledge of any person against order of nature or permits a male to have carnal knowledge of him" can be imprisoned for 14 years.