This account was actually set up so that I could blog from Beijing, but as many of you have probably seen my visa was revoked by the Chinese government less than 24 hours before my flight was to depart. It is of course disappointing to me, but I am not alone. Brad Greiner, Kendra Zanotto, and Chris Boyles all had visas revoked or denied. I find this very concerning because I believe that it is an effort to silence anyone who is even suspected of disagreeing with the Chinese government.
I remain a huge believer in the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together and to be a force for conflict resolution around the world. The athletes that have joined Team Darfur did so out of a sense that the more than 2 million men, women, and children, who have been driven from their homes in Darfur deserve protection. Brad and I founded Team Darfur because we feel trying to stop conflicts such as the one in Darfur are exactly what the Olympics are about.
The recent media attention that has been paid to my situation has given us a spotlight to focus on the plight of the people in Darfur, but we must continue to fight to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The story of this Olympic Games is certainly not finished, but I want to personally thank the more than 25,000 people who wrote to support the athletes competing in Beijing that are members of Team Darfur. I am moved by your words and I know that the athletes are too.
Best of luck to all the athletes - even though I am not there in body, I am rooting for you with all of my heart here in the States!
