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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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China Revokes Visa of Olympian Darfur Activist

Speedskater Joey Cheek leads team for peace in Sudan

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(Newser) – Hours before he was due to leave for Beijing today, US gold-medalist and Darfur activist Joey Cheek got a call from Chinese authorities revoking his visa, the Boston Globe reports. A retired speedskater, Cheek is the founder of Team Darfur, a global group of athletes devoted to bringing peace to the area of Sudan torn by violence. He was headed to China as a human rights activist.

Known for downplaying his athletic accomplishments—"I skate around in tights; it's not that big a deal"—Cheek donated his winnings from Olympic gold and silver medals—$40,000—to the Darfur cause. The Princeton sophomore tells the Globe he feels strongly that athletes should be encouraged to speak their minds; it angers him that some are being hushed by their home countries.

Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur, speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur, speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Olympic speed skater Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur, speaks at a Washington news conference, July 1, 2008.
Olympic speed skater Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur, speaks at a Washington news conference, July 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A fan holds the Chinese and Olympics flags before a women's soccer match between Japan and New Zealand at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Qinhuangdao Wednesday.
A fan holds the Chinese and Olympics flags before a women's soccer match between Japan and New Zealand at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Qinhuangdao Wednesday.   (AP Photo)
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Olympic committees in countries that enjoy the same freedoms we do, tell you, 'It's not our place to be talking about this.' That infuriates me. - Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek

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About Team Darfur
TeamDarfur.org


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