No matter what happens on the slopes and the track at Sochi, this Winter ­Olympic Games is going to be remembered for bring sexuality in sports to the public consciousness.

The Russian government's stance on the issue has set the agenda and ­politicized the issue. Worldwide ­response has been heavily critical and rightly ­supportive of athlete freedom.

However, the fact of the matter is that for the vast majority of athletes taking part in Sochi there is little comeback to coming out.

It's the Winter Olympic Games. Frankly, who's going to be surprised, let alone feel any other emotion, that a male figure skater is gay? The same goes for almost every event competed in at the Winter Games. With the possible exception of the ice hockey, the hate fueled by machismo and tribalism is not present among the fans to turn every sport into a potentially racist, sexist or homophobic embarrassment.

Individual sports have long been ­accepting of openly gay athletes. ­Martina Navratilova's sexuality has not been an issue since she came out in 1981. Even boxing has showed its class since ­Orlando Cruz came out in October 2012. Winning the first two fights since he did so can't have hurt in his sexuality being irrelevant. 

Sadly, team sports are different. And they are more different for men. Gay athletes in international women's ­basketball and soccer are not a new ­phenomenon but openly gay men in top-level team sports are a whole new ball game.

Several high-profile male athletes have come out since retiring from professional sport. That's a brave move and they deserve credit for it but, with the greatest respect to the likes of John ­Ameachi and Thomas Hitzlsperger, openly declaring your sexuality while playing is another level entirely.

NBA veteran Jason Collins came out at the end of the 2012-13 season in a high-profile interview with Sports ­Illustrated. This coincided with him becoming a free agent and, despite his intention to pursue another contract, he remains unattached. Whether his lack of offers stems from homophobia, a ­franchise fearing the ensuing media circus would distract the team or the fact that he is a middling reserve player is impossible to say.

What will be possible is to see the state of homophobia in the NFL come the draft in May. The reason for this is Michael Sam's recent declaration that he is gay. Missouri's All-American defensive lineman is a highly regarded draft prospect and what happens when the draft begins will be a watershed moment in professional team sports.

If he's not selected in the first four rounds, as has been widely predicted, then there's something other than football guiding that decision.

There's clearly a lot of pressure on Sam's shoulders but at 6'3" (1.90 ­meters) and 260 pounds (118 kilograms), he might be able to take it.

Let's hope that football takes the ­opportunity to move professional team sports out of the Dark Ages.

The author is a copy editor with the Global Times. jonathanwhite@globaltimes.com.cn