( CNN ) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his vice-president , Joe Biden , wo n't be there . As a matter of fact , neither will the heads of state from France or Canada . But the good news for Russian President Vladimir Putin is that FIFA president Sepp Blatter will be at the Sochi Winter Olympics . So far only Lithuania 's president , Dalia GrybauskaitÄ— -- an outspoken critic of the Russian government -- has openly said that she is boycotting the games for political reasons . The Winter Games have been bedeviled by allegations of corruption leading to cost overruns and Russia 's attitude towards homosexuality . However Blatter , who heads world football 's governing body and is a member of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) , believes threats to skip the Games over Russia 's anti-gay laws would be counterproductive . Gay rights activists have been protesting against the law which was passed in June 2013 which prohibits talking about homosexuality in front of children . The law has been widely criticized by Western leaders who have called it archaic and discriminatory , leading to politicians from around the world deciding to snub the Games . But Blatter , whose own organization is facing criticism for holding the 2014 World Cup in Brazil amid protests and domestic unrest says the opportunity for dialogue outweighs a boycott . `` These two events ( Sochi and the World Cup in Brazil ) have one thing in common : they have both been misused as a platform for political disputes , '' he said in his column in FIFA 's weekly magazine . `` In the case of the Winter Olympics , this dispute is coming to a head with threats to boycott the Games . `` Such a boycott would change nothing . On the contrary , it may be interpreted as a refusal to establish a dialogue on the issue , as was the case with boycotts of the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 or in Los Angeles in 1984 . `` I believe that such a major event presents a perfect opportunity to strike up conversations and cultivate contacts . '' Russian President Vladimir Putin has already stated that no athlete would face discrimination at February 's Games while protestors will have designated zones in Sochi to make their protests . Blatter , the man who infamously said that racism on the pitch could be settled by a handshake , believes that by traveling to Sochi , it will allow issues such as homosexuality to be discussed in front of a larger audience . `` It is also likely that unpleasant issues will be addressed , because FIFA 's fight against discrimination does not end with the anti-racism campaign , '' he added . `` We must fight every form of social exclusion . Anyone who decides to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi will be surrendering on this important issue , just as anyone running away from a problem will never be able to resolve it . `` This reason alone is why it is important for me to travel to Russia . ''
Games president Blatter warns against boycott . Russian says boycott would be a form of `` surrender '' Sepp Blatter says World Cup World Cup `` misused as platform for political disputes '' Protestors have voiced opposition to Russia 's anti-gay laws .