The Chinese government has revoked the visa of the Olympic gold medalist skater Joey Cheek just hours before he was due to depart for Beijing. Cheek leads Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes dedicated to raising awareness about the genocide in Darfur as the 2008 Olympics get underway. And that genocide is one which the Sudanese regime, closely allied with China, bears significant responsibility for.

The US is placing pressure on Beijing to reverse the decision. Cheek himself has rightly denounced the visa revocation as “ridiculous and petty.” Z Word readers wishing to learn more are encouraged to go to the Team Darfur website.