Is the Olympics about politics or sports?
www.dreamfordarfur.org
Not a Boycott
Olympic Dream for Darfur is not a boycott campaign, nor does it support a boycott of the Olympics.
Our goal is to leverage the Olympics to urge China to use its influence with the Sudanese regime to allow a robust civilian protection force into Darfur. China is in a unique position to do so: as Sudan's strongest political and economic partner, as well as the host of the Olympics.
Our campaign supports the Olympics and believes in the ideal of the Olympic Games as a symbol of peace and international cooperation. Our campaign believes that the sports arena is the best forum for countries to "do battle" and we do not advocate withdrawal by any nation from this essential and important forum.
An Olympic boycott, or the threat of boycott, can only create serious divisions within the ranks of countries and constituencies that, like our campaign, care about Darfur and the ideals of peace represented by the Olympics. A boycott also punishes athletes, their families, and spectators around the world.
Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur
Our campaign has one central ask: "China Please: Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur." We are appealing to China, in its role as host of the Games and close partner of Sudan, to use its considerable influence with Khartoum to protect civilians.
Olympic Dream for Darfur applauds that China won the bid to host the Olympics. We commend China’s willingness to work within the international community, and praise the energy and care China has devoted to hosting a celebratory Olympics.
We do believe, however, that with the privilege of hosting the Olympics come responsibilities, including the obligation to live up to the spirit of the Olympics, which means acting as a global leader for peace.
Or We Will Bring Darfur to the Olympics
If China does not take decisive and genuine action well before the Games begin, we will use the period before the Games – and the Games themselves – as a platform to advocate peace in Darfur. If we cannot "Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur," we will "Bring Darfur to the Olympic Dream," making the horrific crisis in Darfur a significant and unavoidable presence at the Games themselves.
The United Nations has called what is happening in Darfur the "greatest humanitarian catastrophe" in the world today. There would be no greater example of the Olympic spirit at work than to alleviate the endless suffering in western Sudan.
Countdown to the Beijing Games
There are seven months until the Olympics -- precious little time to use the leverage of the 2008 Beijing Games to press China to bring security to Darfur.
Will there be a "Genocide Olympics?"
China holds unrivaled influence with the genocidal regime in Sudan. China must immediately use that influence to persuade the Sudanese government to allow a full and robust civilian protection force into Darfur. (Read about China's influence with Sudan, and what China must do.)
If China does not act, in its role as Olympic host and world leader, Beijing will go down in history as the host of the "Genocide Olympics": China will be sponsoring the Olympic Games at home and the genocide in Darfur -- in which it is complicit -- abroad.
What we must do to bring security to Darfur:
- Stage three major demonstrations during the Games:
- Mia from Darfur: Live from the Camps, a broadcast starting August 6, 2008. It will feature Mia Farrow live from a refuee camp;
- Actions in Beijing (most cannot be divulged at this time because of the risk to participants); and,
- Turn Off for Darfur, a mass action for consumers to turn off sponsors' TV ads during the Games.
- Pressure China with demonstrations between now and August.
- Urge Olympic Corporate Sponsors to use their influence with China.
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