The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony will take place in a few days and frankly I’m feeling frustrated by laissez faire tone of most media coverage. Here we are in America, so pious about “freedom” that we will invade and wage war in the name of spreading democracy. While at the same time, the coverage from mainstream media conglomerates is mostly “rah rah” “go world” rhetoric minimizing the reality that the upcoming games are taking place right in the belly of a totalitarian government. Like bits of clutter thrown under the bed when a surprise guest drops by, Beijing is presenting its shiniest facade facilitated by internet censorship, jailed activists and police crackdowns on all forms of dissent. It is impossible for me to set my focus on the athletic discipline and excellence sure to be on display.

Genocide in Darfur is what most tears my mind away from the spectacle. China does big business with the Sudanese government and is one of the few countries that has a big foot impact on the Sudan economy and in turn its political choices. China is the one that can pressure Sudan to end its genocidal purges. That hasn’t happened yet. But if Joey Cheek and other Olympic athlete members of Team Darfur have any say, the Olympics could still be a pivotal occasion to help the people of Darfur.

Team Darfur is asking the UN and all of the members of the security council to enforce a truce in Darfur that will last throughout and beyond the Beijing Olympics.

In a recent conference call hosted by the Afrosphere Action Coalition, Olympic speed skating champion and Team Darfur founder and president, Joey Cheek, renewed the call of Team Darfur originally laid out in this letter sent to the UN and signed by more than 130 elite athletes:

In the spirit of the Olympic Truce, we issue a moral call for these essentials: a rejuvenated peace process, deployment of peacekeepers, a cessation of attacks, and unfettered access for humanitarian workers. The Olympic Truce period should be marked by an increase of effort by the organizations and governments you lead to secure peace for the people of Darfur. In the past the Olympic Truce has been invoked by the host nation. Now, just weeks before the Games, the People’s Republic of China, given its considerable influence with the government of Sudan, is uniquely positioned to enact its resolution, “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal,” for Darfur.

The whole world is watching. Please get involved - take action!

LISTEN - Afrosphere Action Coalition call with Joey Cheek & Team Darfur