Openly gay snowboarder Belle Brockhoff refuses to speak out against Russian laws

Openly gay snowboarder Belle Brockhoff has insisted that she will not speak out against Russia's anti-gay laws during the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

President Vladimir Putin's decision to ban 'gay propaganda' towards children has caused a global storm ahead of the Games, which gets underway on Friday.

While Brockhoff has admitted that she is "not afraid" to speak her mind after the event, the Australian athlete has insisted that she will not put her position in the Games in danger.

"I'm not afraid to express my opinion after the Games, but I don't want any official to pull me aside or someone stop me at the border," BBC Sport quotes Brockhoff as saying.

Some organisations have called on athletes to display a rainbow flag, which is often used to represent the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.