On the Scene in Beijing -- Cheek Banned, Protest Squashed

China Bars Team Darfur Activist Joey Cheek

BOCOG tells Around the Rings it is looking into the case of Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek after Chinese authorities revoked the visa of the Team Darfur co-founder just hours before he was due to travel to Beijing for the Olympics.

"We are looking into his circumstances," says Sun Weide, BOCOG’s deputy media chief, Wednesday.

"China has its own laws and regulations regarding visa applications," says Sun, insisting calls should be directed to the Chinese Embassy in Washington in the U.S. which had denied Cheek’s visa.

Cheek planned to jet out to Beijing Wednesday to support Olympic athletes who are members of Team Darfur, the coalition of athletes pressing China to do more to end the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.

But an official from the Chinese Embassy in Washington informed him Tuesday that his visa, issued several weeks ago, had been canceled. No reason was given for the cancellation.

"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games," Cheek said in a statement.

"Despite the fact that I've always spoken positively of the Olympic ideal, and never called for a boycott or asked an athlete to break an IOC rule, my visa was revoked less than 24 hours before my scheduled departure," said Cheek, who won a gold in speed skating at Torino 2006.

Cheek had reportedly planned to attend a United Nations Olympic celebration and other charity events but insisted he was not planning any major Team Darfur demonstrations.

He described the denial of his visa as "part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur".

The IOC said Wednesday that it had been made aware through press reports that Cheek had been denied a visa.

"Visa applications from non-accredited persons do not fall within the IOC's remit and we are therefore not best placed to answer you on this question," said IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau.

Some 200,000 people have been killed and around 2.5 million displaced in fighting in the western Sudanese region since rebels took up arms against the government five years ago.

Pro-Tibet Protest Quashed Near Bird's Nest Stadium

Four members of Students for a Free Tibet are arrested by police in Beijing Wednesday after protesting near the site of Friday's opening ceremony.

BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide said police were alerted around 5 a.m. of four foreigners trying to climb the Beichen Bridge.

He said the police "tried to persuade" three males and one female to leave. Two of the protesters were from the U.S., the other two were British.

A Reuters report said they displayed a Tibetan flag and a banner that said "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet."

Sun said the Chinese government "has very clear laws and regulations" and hopes "foreigners who come to participate in the Games would abide" by such laws.

Students for a Free Tibet members unfurled a protest banner on the Great Wall of China in summer 2007 and scaled the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco before the Beijing torch relay's only North American stop in May. It is not known whether any of those arrested Wednesday were involved in the previous protests.

BOCOG Frowns on Protests at Opening Ceremony

BOCOG warns athletes who may be planning to display political signs or shout slogans during Friday's opening ceremony that their actions would run against the Olympic Charter and the spirit of the Olympic Movement.

"We would be opposed to (such actions) and also we believe that all the athletes involved in the Olympic Games know they should not link the Olympic Games with politics," said Zhang Heping, director of BOCOG’s opening and closing ceremonies department.

He also confirms that rain is a possibility during the ceremony, but no strong rains are forecast. "There might be some cloudy weather conditions or some precipitation, but we have fully prepared contingency of some drizzles," Zhang said.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, he said some aerial performances may be reduced for the sake of safety, but there would be no major impact on the festivities.

Details Emerge About Ceremony

Zhang said the opening ceremony will be composed of two parts titled "Splendid Civilization" and "Magnificent Times" that will showcase Chinese history, culture and achievements.

Although there have been three rehearsals of the ceremony, the theme song remains a secret. Zhang said English singer Sarah Brightman and Chinese singer Liu Huan will perform the song. Brightman also sang the 1992 Barcelona Olympics theme song with Jose Carreras.

For the Parade of Nations, the order will be determined by the strokes of the first Chinese character in the country's name translated into Chinese. That means Kenya will follow Greece, which traditionally leads the parade.

BOCOG also promises a spectacular fireworks display, both inside the Bird's Nest stadium and throughout the city of Beijing.

BOCOG said fireworks will be seen throughout the ceremony and would include new types of fireworks and new technologies to launch them. He said about 15,000 shells would be launched in the stadium and 14,000 in the vicinity.

Zhang said fireworks would also be set off at the corners of Beijing "so all the residents of Bejing can enjoy fireworks in a very short distance."

No Earthquake Reference

Contrary to earlier reports, the Sichuan earthquake will not be depicted in the opening ceremony, Zhang said.

"The Opening Ceremony is a celebration of a sporting event," he said. "It is not supposed to contain anything that it cannot bear. We believe the successful hosting of the Olympic Games will boost international spirit, which will in turn help our efforts in disaster relief."

No Shot at Olympic Glory for Azerbaijan Hockey

The Court of Arbitration of Sport dismisses a second appeal from the Azerbaijan NOC and field hockey federation to include the Azeri field hockey team in the Beijing Games.

ANOC contended that the International Hockey Federation abused its discretion when two female Spanish hockey players who failed drug tests were cleared of wrongdoing. The pair tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs after the women’s Olympic qualifying tournament.

Under FIH rules, a team would be disqualified from the Olympics if more than one player tests positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Spain edged out Azerbaijan to qualify for the Olympics and would have forfeited the team’s position to the Azeri team.

CAS however, said Azerbaijan "had no standing ... to request such relief".

FIH ruled Gloria Comerma violated their doping policies but opted not to impose any penalties. FIH’s judicial panel decided the unidentified second player committed no offense.

Olympic Flame Arrives in Beijing

The Olympic flame began its journey through Beijing on Wednesday morning, with BOCOG chief Liu Qi handing the flame to China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei.

"The flame came back to Beijing" said Guo Jinlong, Beijing mayor, at the brief ceremony held at the entrance to Tiananmen Square.

"Beijing is fully ready for the Olympic Games. The city is opening its arms to guests worldwide," he said. "We are eagerly waiting for the flame to be lit in the National Stadium."

Yao Ming was the ninth torchbearer, meaning it is unlikely he will light the cauldron.

A total of 433 people will carry the flame today before it reaches the Great Wall later Wednesday.

Weather Report

Beijing Olympic Green: 31c/88F, scattered storms

Hong Kong Beas River Equestrian Center: 26C/79F, cyclones

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center: 28C/82F, sunny

Quote of the Day

"When you’re competing, it’s just like war."

Team USA Chef de Mission Charles Lee on the intensity of sport.

With reporting from Mark Bisson, Bob Mackin, and Ed Hula III.