Olympics 2008: Off To a Poor Start

And I'm not talking about the U.S. Women's Soccer Team losing to Norway. I'm talking about the denial of Joey Cheek's visa.

Adorable, isn't he. But wait, there's more.

He has many excellent qualities.

• First, he's cute.
• Second, he has a gold medal which he won in exhilarating style at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
• Third, he dontated the $40,000.00 bonus he won for achiving that medal to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization that uses sport and play to enhance child development in disadvantaged areas around the world.
• Finally, he's awesome.

BUT the Chinese disagree. Yesterday I read in the Washington Post and New York Times that hours before Joey Cheek's departure to the 2008 Summer Olympics the Chinese denied his visa because he co-founded Team Darfur,

an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. A campaign leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Team Darfur aims to educated the global public through the unique voice of elite athletes. Team Darfur brings together the world's Olympic and professional athletes to put international pressure not only on Sudan, but also on those countries that support the policy of inaction in the face of this dire humanitarian crisis.

(emphasis added). By "those countries," I'm pretty sure Team Darfur means China, who has gained a reputation for protecting its business interests in Africa and its policy of non-intervention in domestic human rights issues by blocking United Nations intervention in the Sudan with its permanent veto on the U.N. Security Council. I understand the Chinese government's concern in denying Joey Cheek and perhaps other members of Team Darfur entry to the 2008 Games. I also understand that their decision is WRONG and STUPID.

It is WRONG because, as the Chinese say in ther official press release,

"One World, One Dream," expresses the common whishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace.

What Joey Cheek did with his gold medal bonus and what he continues to do as an Olympian is embrace China's precious theme. Of course, the Chinese press release also emphasizes that

"One World, One Dream" is a profound manifestation of the core concepts of the the Beijing Olympic Games. It reflects the values of harmony connoted in the concept of "People's Olympics,"

and the "People's Olympics" does not mean world peoples, it means the Chinese people. The Olympic press release is actually quite frank in emphasizing that these Olympics are about China first and international competition second.

"One World, One Dream"...expresses the firm belief of a great nation, with a long history of 5,000 years and on its way towards modernization, that is committed to peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness. It voices the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and bright world.

The world harmony connoted in "One World, One Dream" means the world in harmony with China's way of thinking. So from the Western perspective, my perspective, the denial of Joey Cheek's visa is wrong. From Chinese "One World, One Dream" perspective it is necessary to promote harmony. (By the Way, Nancy Pelosi makes a more eloquent argument than I do, and it's not often that this blog will cite to Nancy Pelosi).

But on to my second point.

It is STUPID because the last Olympic thing Joey Cheek did was carry the American flag during the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympics. His teammates voted him the honor because of the Olympic spirit he demonstrated by using his Olympic success to highlight and assuage the plight of disadvantaged children.


What do you think all the Western newscasters will be talking about during the first night of Olympic coverage? Joey Cheek. When will they be talking about Joey Cheek? During the opening ceremony when Lopez Lomong caries the flag for the U.S. Olympic team. Lopez Lomong is a survivor of the violence in the Sudan and a member of Team Darfur. His selection is likely in part a reaction by U.S. athletes to Joey Cheek's visa denial.

Stupid China. You deny a beloved athlete's visa mere days before the start of The Games when it is sure to get lots of media coverage in the dead news window between the official start of the games and before the athletes actually start competing and making headlines. And you don't anticipate that the U.S. athletes will chose a representative embodying the Darfur issues. (By the way, hats off to the passive agressive choice of Lopez Lomong. Well done Team U.S.A., well done). Your actions only bring more attention to Team Darfur and Lopez Lomong. Fate and political manipulation have bookended flag bearers Joey Cheek and Lopez Lomong with such narrative poetry that the Western press will be sure to pick up on the Darfur issue and Chinese efforts to suppress it. The press will beat Western viewers over the heads with the story. Heck, I'm picking up on it, and I'm probably one blog posting of many.

Stupidity Update: Denying Joey Cheek his visa has even rattled President Bush's Plan to "privately" discuss disagreements with China. He publicly chided China yesterday.