As we've noted in past blog posts, Team Darfur athletes have been leading the call for an Olympic Truce for Darfur. As outlined in their open letter, an Olympic Truce for Darfur would be a period of time when the international community would work to secure lasting peace for Darfur by demanding increased access for humanitarian aid workers, deployment of UNAMID peacekeepers, and support for the peace process.
A quick recap of Team Darfur athletes' efforts for an Olympic Truce for Darfur:
July 1: Team Darfur releases an open letter signed by over 130 elite athletes calling for an Olympic Truce for Darfur. Read the letter here. Read the press release here .
Dream for Darfur releases a report outlining the history of the Olympic Truce and the ways it can be used to secure lasting peace in Darfur. Read the report here.
July 2: The Olympic Truce release is covered by numerous media outlets, including: The Washington Post, Voice of America, The New York Times, and Taiwan News.
July 30: Senators Feingold (D-WI) and Coleman (R-MN) introduce “A resolution calling on the Governments of the People's Republic of China and the international community to use the upcoming Olympic Games as an opportunity to push for the parties to the conflicts in Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic to cease hostilities and revive efforts toward a peaceful resolution of their national and regional conflicts.”
August 1st: The Senate Resolution and athletes' call for an Olympic Truce is covered by numerous media outlets, including: USA Today , The Los Angeles Times and The Seattle Post Intelligencer.
The Olympic Truce period officially begins. Sign up to show your support for an Olympic Truce for Darfur here, and join Team Darfur athletes in their efforts to create lasting peace for Darfur.
