- Team Darfur
Team Darfur is an international association of athletes devoted to raising awareness of humanitarian crises related to
War in Darfur . It is among the many organizations that consider the War to involve genocide.Team Darfur attracted greater attention in the run-up to the
2008 Summer Olympics , because the Olympics are located in China, a country widely criticized for its economic involvement in Darfur.In particular, Team Darfur criticized China's economic and diplomatic support for the Sudanian government headed by
Omar al-Bashir . Al-Bashir currently faces genocide charges in theInternational Criminal Court , which accuses him of masterminding attempts to wipe out African tribes in Darfur with a campaign of murder, rape and deportation carried out usingJanjaweed fighters. For its part, China's stated policy in Sudan is to participate in international peacekeeping and diplomatic efforts while having "respect for [Sudan's] sovereignty and territorial integrity" and encouraging economic development [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/16/content_6460400.htm] .Team Darfur attempted to exert pressure on the Chinese government by associating the Beijing Olympics with China's involvement in Darfur.
On August 6, 2008, China revoked the entrance visa of
Joey Cheek , Team Darfur's president and co-founder, hours before he was scheduled to leave for Beijing. Cheek was not competing in the2008 Summer Olympics , but had planned attend the games in support of Team Darfur. [http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Chi?urn=oly,98718] [cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080800009.html?hpid=topnews|publication=Washington Post |title=Where Once He Was Lost, Now He Is Found|author=Thomas Boswell |date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-08]ee also
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*Olympic Dream for Darfur External Links
* [http://teamdarfur.org/ Team Darfur]
References
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