Team Darfur: Because it's more than just a game.

"Why the hell did they give the Olympics to China?" - A Team Darfur intern, who shall remain nameless, in a moment of rhetorical exasperation.

Summer 2008 was a busy one for Darfur activists. Activists gained momentum as they capitalized on the Beijing Olympics to bring new attention to the on-going genocide in Darfur, highlighting China's substantial role in supporting the Sudanese government-not only as its largest trading partner, but through equipping and training the military. In a middle of it all, a group created by athletes for athletes, who are not only appalled by the genocide but offended by China's violation of the Olympic spirit, rose to particular prominence among the fray.

Rewind to 2006

American speed skater Joey Cheek, after winning gold and silver medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, donated his $40,000 medal bonuses to Right To Play, an organization focused on bringing the benefits of sport and play to the most disadvantaged children in the world, and used his press conferences to talk about the situation in Darfur. By calling on corporations to match his donations, he raised over $500,000 by the end of the games, and leveraged another million in the year after. A Sports Illustrated reporter cited Cheek's charity as the most "indelible memory" of the games.

Ever nonchalant about his own achievements, Cheek commented, "I do a pretty ridiculous thing. I skate around in tights. But because I skated well, I have a chance to bring exposure to bigger things I'd like to pursue."

Joey's actions certainly catapulted him into an international spotlight-among a litany of other honors, he was chosen by his teammates to carry the American flag at the closing ceremonies-but even more importantly, because of how he used his spotlight, Darfur instantly popped up on the radar of previously un-reached millions around the world. (I remember the headlines in Cape Town, South Africa, where I was at the time.)

Team Darfur

Cheek continued his activism back in the U.S., and in September 2007 partnered with UCLA water polo player and fellow Darfur activist Brad Grenier to found Team Darfur with an aim to "educate the global public through the unique voice of elite athletes." Within two months, Team Darfur recruited 100 athletes.

Today, Team Darfur boasts a membership of over 400 athletes, giving the organization an impressive international reach as athletes use their public status to advocate for action on Darfur. Program Manager Lindsey Peterson commented,  "I am immensely proud of the diverse international coalition of athletes that we have built. We are thrilled to have athletes from over 60 countries around the world that can now be a part of a movement for peace in Darfur in their home countries."

Team Darfur athletes made headlines throughout the world in the months leading up to the Olympics. Team Darfur athlete and former Sudanese Lost Boy Lopez Lomong was chosen by his teammates to carry the American flag at the Opening Ceremonies. U.S. softball player Jessica Mendoza was covered by the New York Times for her ardent activism. Writing for the Team Darfur Blog, swimmer Nikki Dryden commented on the "movement" created by athlete and sponsor donations to organization like Right to Play. Each Team Darfur athlete brought an individual story and motivation to the cause-often defying pressure and even gag orders to participate-and these are but a select few of the many, many examples.

"In my mind, helping empower new people to speak out about this crisis is the biggest thing we accomplished this year," remarked Team Darfur's Executive Director, Martha Heinemann Bixby.  "To have a group of high-profile, well-spoken, passionate people who will be talking about Darfur and raising awareness and pressuring politicians for the foreseeable future seems like a great addition to the work of the broader ‘movement.'"

And then the you-know-what hit the fan...

Summer started out as planned: Cheek testified at a Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law in June, and joined with Dream for Darfur in July to call for an Olympic Truce. Team Darfur staff supported athletes speaking out on Darfur and collected significant media attention.

And then, in a perfect example of why you always need a Plan B:

Just before 5pm (EST) on August 5, less than 24 hours before he was set to depart for Beijing, Cheek received a call from the Chinese embassy informing him that his visa had been revoked. "I asked for a reason, and they said we don't give reasons," said Cheek. "I said, who else can I speak to about this, and they said, 'There is no other recourse.' "

And the media blitz began. The story made the front page Washington Post the next morning, and was featured in print, television, and radio news outlets, from major outlets down to local paper (ever heard of the Peterborough Examiner?), from CNN to the Colbert Report. Various politicians weighed in, and Bob Costas asked President Bush point-blank about the incident. (I'm sure Cheek is comforted to know the president thinks he's "a good man.")

Frankly, China did Team Darfur a huge favor, and Team Darfur used the spotlight well. Their intention was never to boycott, but rather to actualize spirit of the Olympics, which at least theoretically represents international unity and peace. "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," Cheek wrote in response to the visa incident. "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."

Peterson also expressed her disappointment. "I've always loved the idea of the Olympics so I was deeply saddened to see how the Chinese Government as Olympic Hosts were able to take the Olympics- an event built around the concept of international brotherhood, human rights, and cooperation, and in many ways strip it of those components."

So what?

I may be a biased, self-professed Team Darfur super fan (sitting here fully outfitted in my Team Darfur gear), but I think Team Darfur's creative advocacy-targeted and well-organized, in a time increasingly characterized by activist fatigue-played a substantial role in popularizing the Darfur issue. When genocide is covered by Sports Illustrated, you know you're broadening your reach. Furthermore, Cheek and his cohorts clearly grabbed China's attention-if they thought Cheek's work was inconsequential, they wouldn't have bothered with him.

(Unfortunately for Cheek, now that he is an enemy of the Chinese state, I don't think he'll be able to supplement the intensive Chinese classes he's now taking at Princeton with an immersion program.)

In an interview the morning after the visa revocation, Cheek expressed his frustration with particular cogence: "It seems like it's about more than sports when it's convenient, and it's only about sports when it's convenient, and I find that frustrating. If you're going to set an ideal, you should live up to it."

Well said.