CNN news 2013-12-26 加文本

cnn news 2013-12-26

CARL AZUZ, cnn ANCHOR: It`s our panel to meet program of 2013. And it starts with next year`s Winter Olympics to happen in February in the Russian city of Sochi. There`s been some controversy involving the games, and about a Russian law regarding homosexuality. That under the law, it is not illegal to be homosexual, but it is illegal to promote homosexuality or same sex relationships to minors. Russian President Vladimir Putin says everyone, athletes and spectators will be welcome at the Olympics.

Yesterday, the U.S. announced its delegation for the Olympics, the people who will represent the U.S. in Sochi. Some analysts think that who`s going and who`s not could be sending a message. The delegation includes several openly homosexual American athletes, it doesn`t include President Obama, any member of the first family or any member of the presidential cabinet. The first time in more than ten years that`s happened.

Next up, diplomacy: how countries and governments interact. The U.S. and North Korea don`t have diplomatic relations. So, you don`t usually see officials from one country meeting with officials from the other. One high profile American is visiting North Korea later, but we`re not talking about an ambassador, or a government employee. It`s a former pro-basketball star.

ANNA COREN, cnn CORRESPONDENT: With his piercings, tattoos, and at times outlandish behavior, there`s no denying former NBA star Dennis Rodman loves attracting attention. And where he`s heading, it`s certain the world will be watching. As the 52-year old makes his third visit into a country ruled by one of the world`s most repressive regime.

DENNIS RODMAN, FMR. NBA STAR: I want to bridge a gap with North Korea. That`s all I wanted.

COREN: It comes at a time of dramatic political upheaval in North Korea. Just last week, the country`s young leader, Kim Jong-un had his uncle executed, in what some experts believe is just the beginning of many more purges to come. A power struggle is believed to be the reason why he had his mentor and second in command allegedly killed by machine gunfire. And with all the instability, it would appear that the Supreme Leader could use a good friend.

RODMAN: I`m going to call him my friend. He is my friend. You could hate my guts, hate my guts, but he is my friend.

COREN: Rodman is traveling with a documentary crew that will film him training the North Korean basketball team. They are preparing for an exhibition match in January, against a group of former pro-basketball players, to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong-un, a diehard basketball fan. Many are wondering, whether Rodman will raise the issue of 45-year old American missionary Kenneth Bae, who was sentenced to 15-years prison in Pyongyang, for what authorities say was an attempt to overthrow the regime.

But Rodman says this trip isn`t political, although in previous visits, he has made himself available for basketball diplomacy, offering to be a mediator between his close friend Kim and U.S. President Barack Obama.

RODMAN: And this guy just wants to do one thing: just have a conversation with you. That`s it. So, why Obama, are you afraid to talk to Dennis Rodman?

COREN: Anna Coren, cnn, Seoul.