China Revokes Visa of Gold Medalist Joey Cheek

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HOFN.com staff

China revoked the visa of gold medalist Joey Cheek just hours before the speed skating champion was about to fly to Beijing for the 2008 games.

Cheek is the founder of Team Darfur, a group of 70 athletes with a goal to raise global awareness of the human-rights violations taking part in the Darfur region of Sudan. Sudan's militant Muslim regime has slaughtered millions of Christians and other non-Muslims who refuse to convert to Islam.

Communist China’s military and political support of the Arab-dominated dictatorship of Sudan is among the chief reasons the carnage has continued for so long and with such human suffering.

"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games. 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,” said Cheek in a prepared statement.

Cheek was intending to buoy athletes on Team Darfur -- including soccer player Abby Wambach -- and to help publicize the Darfur slaughter and China’s role.

After taking the gold medal in the Torino Games, Cheek donated his $25,000 USOC bonus to Darfur and encouraged his sponsors to follow suit.

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China Revokes Visa of Gold Medalist Joey Cheek

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