http://news.yam.com/afp/sports/200808/20080808019794.html
奧運 中國支持蘇丹 京奧美國隊掌旗官不滿
法新社╱楊玫寧 2008-08-08 22:50
（法新社北京八日電）擔任美國北京奧運代表隊掌旗官的長跑選手盧蒙今天表示，他不贊同中國對其祖國蘇丹的政策，且對知名達佛維權人士齊克被突然註銷簽證而不得出席北京奧運大失所望。
童年時期的盧蒙是蘇丹南部地區暴亂的受害者，接著在肯亞難民營一待就是十年，之後才被一個美國家庭收養。
盧蒙去年入籍美國，美國奧運各競賽項目隊長六日投票決定，將今晚北京奧運開幕式美國代表隊掌旗官的榮耀授予他。
盧蒙說：「擁有偉大民主的美國人民，選擇投票給我，我無法用言語形容，我感到十分開心。」
他說：「身為美國人，我感到十分驕傲，可以驕傲地高舉美國國旗。」
盧蒙也是「達佛團隊」的一員。這個由全球各國運動員組成的團體，致力呼籲公眾關注蘇丹達佛地區的人道衝突。
在被詢及中國支持蘇丹政府及其人權紀錄時，盧蒙坦言他的感受。
他說：「我不想評論中國政府的思維，我希望在此能鼓舞其他孩童，全球各國一致注視，他們會知道我如何能置身於此，而我將代表我的理念。」
盧蒙也痛批中國註銷齊克的入境簽證。齊克是二零零六年競速滑冰金牌得主，及「達佛團隊」創始人之一。他原先打算以私人身份出席奧運。
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080808/sp_afp/oly2008usaflagsudlomongdarfur_080808054730;_ylt=Atr_yrgWMB5pl40PxI1TayPFOrgF
Olympics: US flag bearer unhappy with China over Darfur
by Jim Slater
Fri Aug 8, 1:47 AM ET
BEIJING (AFP) - US flag bearer Lopez Lomong said Friday he disagreed with Chinese policy on his former country Sudan, and was disappointed prominent Darfur activist Joey Cheek had been barred from the Olympics.
Lomong was a victim of violence in southern Sudan as a child and spent 10 years in a refugee camp in Kenya before being adopted by a US family.
He became a US citizen last year and was voted by US sport captains to carry the American banner in Friday night's opening ceremony.
"American people, with the great democracy they have, chose to vote for me. I don't have words for it. I'm so happy," Lomong said. "I'm so proud to be an American and raise that flag proudly."
Lomong also is a member of Team Darfur, a global athlete group trying to raise awareness of the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur.
"I lived that life before. That's why I'm a member of Team Darfur. I lived that situation," Lomong said. "Olympics is supposed to be a thing to bring people together. It's a peaceful thing."
Asked about China's support of the Sudan government and its record on human rights, Lomong made his feelings clear.
"I don't go for how the government thinks," Lomong said. "I hope I'm here to inspire other kids. All the nations are watching and they will learn how I got here and I will represent my cause.
"Hopefully somebody out there, maybe a Chinese kid, will take my story and learn from it. Maybe I can inspire a Chinese kid to follow his dreams, to overcome those obstacles."
Lomong also rebuked China for revoking an entry visa for Cheek, an Olympic gold medallist speedskater and Team Darfur co-founder, who was planning to attend the Games as a private citizen.
"I'm disapointed Joey Cheek is not here," Lomong said. "He's supposed to be here. He is an Olympian."
US Olympic Committee (USOC) chairman Peter Ueberroth called Lomong being the flag bearer "a terrific selection" and "a wonderful statement."
Asked to elaborate, he said: "It's a good way to judge a country when people come to the US and want to become citizens," he
When asked if Lomong's selection was a message from US athletes to China's government on human rights issues, he said that if it was, that was a good thing.
"The athletes would better be able to answer that than I could," Ueberroth said. "Either way, it's fine. Either way, it's good."
Lomong met US basketball star LeBron James after his comments, impressing the National Basketball Association superstar.
"It's unbelievable what he has been through, knowing where he has come from and hearing his words," James said. "There's no better person to be the flag bearer for us. I'm happy about it."
Lomong told a handful of US athletes he wanted to carry the flag when they gathered in San Francisco before flying to Asia.
"I mentioned to my peers I would like to be the one carrying that flag," he said. "A lot of my peers spread the word."
Lomong retold his tale of being taken from his family by a militia at six, escaping captivity after three weeks and running through the wildnerness three days to Kenya, where he spent a decade in a refugee camp.
"The courage and perserverance he has shown to stand on the Olympic field is a testament to his will and desire," USOC chief executive Jim Scherr said.
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