http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-08-06-cheek-visa-revoked_N.htm BEIJING — Lopez Lomong, a Lost Boy of the Sudan and a member of Team Darfur, was selected Thursday (Beijing time) as flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team in Friday's opening ceremonies — the same day winter Olympian Joey Cheek had his visa revoked by China because of his prominent role with Team Darfur. Cheek, a 2006 gold medal-winning speedskater who expected to arrive in Beijing today, is angry that the Chinese government is taking this "effort to suppress discussion about human rights." He was happy about Lomong's selection but said it had no bearing on his situation. Lomong, 23, a 1,500-meter runner, was born in Sudan and driven from his family after a rebel attack. After escaping from a rebel camp at 6, he spent 10 years in a refugee camp in Kenya before arriving in Tully, N.Y., and becoming a citizen a year ago. "His selection is a statement to how moving his story is," Cheek said. "The fact that he survived these tragedies is an amazing story." Cheek is co-founder of Team Darfur. He had planned to attend the Games to support the 70-plus athletes who will be competing in Beijing who have signed onto Team Darfur. The group is critical of the Chinese government's funding of the Sudanese regime responsible for the genocide in Darfur. "We've been hearing from athletes for several months that they would have extra screening in Beijing if they didn't distance themselves from us," said Cheek. "It sounds like some sort of harassment." Cheek is less concerned about not going to the Olympics than he is about "the muzzling of athletes" who are competing. "I really hope the International Olympic Committee will make all efforts to protect competing athletes and their right to be able to speak about this or any issue they consider to be relevant," he said. USOC officials are staying out of the dispute. "We think it is unfortunate," Jim Scherr, chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, said, adding Cheek wasn't part of the U.S. delegation. "But that's between this government and Joey as a private citizen trying to make his way to these Games." It's unclear what, if anything, Lomong may say at a Friday press conference about the situation in Darfur, a western area of Sudan. Lomong called the honor "the most exciting day ever in my life. The American flag means everything in my life — everything that describes me, coming from another country and going through all the stages that I have to become a U.S. citizen." Lomong first became aware of the Olympics in 2000 when he walked about five miles from the camp in Kenya and spent his meager earnings of a few cents from a landscaping job to pay to watch the Sydney Olympics on TV. Lomong's reaction to the spectacle and watching 400 champ Michael Johnson of the USA: "I'd like to run like that guy." But not even four-time Olympic champion Johnson got to carry the flag. ------------------------------------ From the Chron: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/oly/5929260.html ------------------------------------ Lomong's website: http://lopezlomong.org/ " When we were in Africa, we didn't know what was there for us as kids--we just ran. God was planning all of this stuff for me, and I didn't know. Now I'm using running to get the word out about how horrible things were back in Sudan during the war. Sometimes these things are not on CNN, so if I put out the word, I hope people can get the information. Right now, similar terrible things are going on in Darfur; people are running out of Darfur, and I put myself in their shoes." ------------------------------------ My own view: This is a pretty clear statement by the USA team captains (who elected Lomong). I'm proud of their courage. The Olympics are a time of peace, but not of silence. As for Lomong, what a story. From a six-year-old genocide survivor to a world-class athlete speaking out for his country's plight. How he's managed to do all that while keeping such an incredible demeanor is a mystery to me.
