Joey Cheek, American speed skater, gold-medalist and president of Team Darfur, a group of Olympic athletes working to end the genocide, had his visa revoked by Chinese authorities today and won’t be able to attend the upcoming Beijing games.

The Chinese authorities have made no comment and don’t intend to. The news came the night before Cheek was expected to fly to China to support his country and his politics.

One of Cheek’s main Olympic goals during the Beijing Games was to urge the international community to persuade Sudan abide by the tradition of the Olympic truce.

So many athletes “are drawn to this issue,” Martha Bixby (Team Darfur spokesperson) says, referring to Darfur. “To me, this fits in with the Olympics, which are about the world coming together for the betterment of mankind.” [NPR]

While this is of course frustrating, awful and in direct conflict with the spirit of the Olympics, it is getting Joey and Team Darfur a lot more press than they normally would have. I can’t help but wonder if this will help the cause more than if he had quietly made his way to China?

Seems like a great time to amp up the Darfur spirit - so takepart and visit the Dream for Darfur action center and find out what you can do while Joey Cheek watches the Olympics from home.

Also, while you’re here at TakePart, takepart by heading over to our Darfur Now profile and connect with the issues that were in the film. And maybe take a break from the actual Olympics to learn more about Darfur by watching the film!

Read on:

• China Revokes Ex-Speedskater Joey Cheek’s Visa
• Olympics: China revokes visa of US Olympic medallist and activist Joey Cheek
• China Defends Right to Deny Activists’ Visas