Athletes appeal for human rights in China

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BEIJING –- More than 100 leading active and retired athletes, including 2008 Olympic gold medal contenders Blanka Vlasic of Croatia, the reigning world high-jump champion, and Dayron Rubles of Cuba, high hurdles world record holder, have signed a letter asking Chinese President Hu Jintao to respect human rights, find a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet and end the death penalty.

The letter, appearing on the website ‘Sport for Peace,’’ appeared in Wednesday’s editions of the International Herald-Tribune.

Its text and the signatories, including several Olympic champions and many 2008 Olympians, can be found here.

-- Philip Hersh