After transferring from Temple to University of California, Sean Bryan became a force to be reckoned with. He helped the Bears win rings over No. 3 ranked Ohio State. He was also selected as an Academic All-MPSF scholar athlete. His team placed 5th in the NCAA Championship. When asked why he joined Team Darfur, he responded:

"I joined team Darfur because we are all called to love each other in every way possible. and even though I feel like my one membership doesn't mean much in the long run, it would be hypocritical of me not to extend myself in every way possible to the people of Darfur. Prayer is my main offering, and it's more powerful than people generally acknowledge. I would like to extend the invitation to everyone to pray with this matter close to their hearts."

        To our great excitement, the press conference announcing the Olympic Truce received a great deal of media attention! Newspapers spanning from The Washington Post to Taiwan News published articles. Andrew Astleford of The Post [5] set it up: "Cheek, co-founder and president of Team Darfur and a three-time Olympic medalist, led a five-member panel at the National Press Club yesterday that released a letter calling upon international leaders to pressure the Sudanese government to observe a 55-day Olympic truce period for the Darfur region, starting Aug. 1." Most reports discussed the ancient Greek history of the Olympic Truce allowing athletes to safely travel to and from the Games.

This morning co-founder and president of Team Darfur, Joey Cheek, was joined via telephone by Olympic Gold medalist Jessica Mendoza at the National Press Club announcing the call for an Olympic Truce for Darfur. Dream for Darfur Director, Jill Savitt, and Research Director, Ellen Freudenheim, were also in attendance to announce their report on the Olympic Truce. Suliman Giddo, president of Darfur Peace and Development Organization represented the Darfurian support for this call. In conjunction with fellow athletes, activists, and Darfurians, Team Darfur drafted an open letter describing the conception and requirements for an operable Olympic Truce which can be read in full here [8]. In total to date the letter has accumulated 130 signatures. The formal press release is also available by clicking here. [9]

Athletes please send an email to info@teamdarfur.org [10] to sign your name to the Olympic Truce Unity Letter, fans please sign on to support the truce by clicking here. [11]

The letter begins:

 Kelly Vanderbeek is a World Class Downhill Skier from Ontario, Canada who competed in her first Olympics at the 2006 games in Torino. She finished fourth (only split seconds away from a medal) and is working on winning World Cup Championships until the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Kelly's other interests include sports (including soccer, volleyball, and waterskiing) and hobbies such as drawing, photography, and music.

When asked why she joined Team Darfur, she had this to say:

Team Darfur athlete Rosanna Tomiuk’s piece on the importance of speaking out about Darfur was published this week in online magazine www.VoicesOfTomorrow.org [16]. We want to thank Rosanna for writing this thoughtful piece, and encourage everyone to follow www.VoicesOfTomorrow.org [17] as more articles by Team Darfur athletes will be published there in the coming weeks and months.

When I imagine the chasm that separates me from another girl my same age who struggles every day to survive what many are calling genocide, I am left wondering how I lucked out.

And when I think about the pressing decisions in my life - like whether to pursue a professional water polo career in Europe or finish up my last year of eligibility as an NCAA athlete - and her life, my concerns suddenly gain a different perspective.

I was born into Canadian freedom that provides endless opportunity, and she was born and raised in the Darfur region of Sudan with a freedom that exists only as a hopeful idea. Her worries? Where is my family? Will I make it to safety? I'm hungry, and I don't want to be alone.

Team Darfur publishes a weekly newsletter featuring national and international news relating to the Olympics and Darfur and showcases member athletes and other advocates.
If you are interested in receiving our weekly newsletter, please email info@teamdarfur.org [24] with Newsletter in the Subject.

IN THE NEWS
 

A Weekly Newsletter by Team Darfur

Top Headlines

June 20, 2008- World Refugee Day, as stated by the UNHCR
What you can do to help [25]
World Refugee Day in the news:Read article. [26]

Kyson Bunthuwong Joins Team Darfur [29]