Both France’s President Hollande and Germany’s President Gauck will not be attending the Winter Olympics in Russia because of human rights abuses. Russia has been under international attack recently in connection with the ongoing clamp-down on gay rights.

A spokesman for Belgium’s first openly gay Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, told reporters: "There were no plans to go. It wasn’t on our agenda."

Flemish Premier Kris Peeters told the daily De Morgen: "I wasn’t going anyhow."

Federal cabinet ministers are free to attend the Sochi Games, but it’s already clear Foreign Minister Reynders won’t turn up, though he’s denied he’s taking part in a boycott: "I believe we should keep sports and politics separate."

Mr Di Rupo is pictured here with Queen Paola.

[Flandersnews.be / Expatica]