In Qatar, homosexuality is forbidden and, although rare, can lead to death. A special situation for SVT's expert and former height jumper Kajsa Bergqvist.
- I understand that it can mean seven years in prison if you get caught being gay or if you show sympathy for the issue. Just being here in Qatar and talking to you can be a criminal offense.
How do you think you will be affected as a sportsman if you are gay and should compete in Qatar?
- As an athlete, you focus on what to do. But I do not think that it is possible to come from an uneasy feeling to be in a country where you are not accepted, she says, hoping at the same time for a position from someone active.
- It would have been awesome if someone took a stand, but it's not something I expect.
What do you think about the Qatar Athletics World Cup?
- Some think it is good that they are forced to shed light on these issues. But I think the requirement should be to change the legislation and respect human rights before arranging major championships, she says and continues:
- I think you can compare it to if a country divided its population into a race, then you would never have allowed that country to host a World Cup.
Strange event: "The schedule was suddenly empty"During the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Swedish skier Emma Green's rainbow-colored nails became a world news. Something Kajsa Bergqvist got to experience on the spot as ambassador for IAAF.
- It was a brave action. I don't think she thought of it then, but it became a world news, ”says Bergqvist, and goes on to tell about a strange event that happened after Green's position.
- All of a sudden my schedule was empty and all the commitments that were planned were gone. I don't know the real reason for this today, but they knew I was gay and then you can figure out the rest yourself, she says and emphasizes:
- But IAAF is not the same organization today as they were then.