More of the politics of Olympics

4:16 PM, July 31, 2008

Speed skater Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is calling for an Olympic truce in Darfur, Sudan, during the Beijing Games.

The Senate resolution introduced Thursday urges China to pressure Sudan, one of its trading partners, to stop violence that has claimed at least 200,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million people.

“The Chinese government hoped to show the world a new China with the Olympics, but instead the spotlight will be on their same old policies that disregard the rights of human beings,” said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), one of the resolution’s sponsors.

The resolution was welcomed by Team Darfur, a group of athletes that is urging Sudan and China to observe the truce, a tradition that dates to the ancient Olympics.

“With the U.S. behind the Olympic truce, we hope that more countries will join in the efforts to give the people of Darfur a chance at lasting peace,” said 2006 speedskating gold medalist Joey Cheek, co-founder of Team Darfur.

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is heading to Beijing to check out Olympics preparations, including the city's public transportation. He'll look for ideas that could help the Windy City refine its bid for the 2016 Summer Games.

Beijing is the only Games during which Chicago officials can see how the Olympics work before the International Olympic Committee decides whether Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Tokyo gets the 2016 Summer Games. A decision is due next year.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: Speedskater Joey Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur, appeared in a Washington, D.C., news conference July 1. Credit: Susan Walsh /Associated Press