Team Darfur's Joey Cheek Has Visa Revoked by China Authorities

Joey Cheek, the president and co-founder of Team Darfur, had his visa revoked as he attempted to fly to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Cheek, a gold medalist in the 2006 Winter Olympics, had his visa revoked by Chinese authorities just hours before his flight. Cheek was traveling to support athletes involved with Team Darfur, an international coalition to bring light to and end the genocides in Darfur, Sudan.

"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games," Cheek said in a prepared statement. "The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur."

The Chinese government has been criticized for its close relationship with Sudan despite their notorious genocide in their Darfur region. Several nations have tried to apply pressure to China to either sever ties with Sudan or to force the country to end its gruesome genocide practices.

Cheek won gold in the 500 meters at the 2006 Winter Olympics Games and also earned a silver medal in the 1000m that year. He then donated $25,000 USOC gold medal bonus to Right to Play, another humanitarian organization Cheek is involved with that uses sports to help underprivileged children around the world.

To reward his humanitarian efforts, Cheek was awarded the honor of carrying the U.S. flag at the closing ceremonies in Turin.

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