Chinese Government Expected 'Problems' from Abby Wambach

Soccer star Abby Wambach

The Chinese government was concerned some American athletes might stage demonstrations in Beijing in support of Team Darfur, and it provided the U.S. Olympic Committee with a list of nine athletes whom it considered potential trouble.

October 31, 2008

Government was concerned she'd stage protest

by Jeff DiVeronica

Abby Wambach? Troublemaker?

"Pretty weird, huh?" she said Thursday from Los Angeles. More than just opponents of the United States soccer team were worried about the high-scoring forward from Pittsford heading into last summer's Olympics in Beijing

The Chinese government was so concerned some American athletes might stage demonstrations in Beijing in support of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, it provided the U.S. Olympic Committee with a list of nine athletes whom it considered potential trouble.

Wambach, 28, the Pittsford native and a member of Team Darfur, was on that list.

But the Our Lady of Mercy High School graduate never went to China because she broke her leg a few weeks before the Olympics. The U.S. went on to win gold without Wambach, who said she hopes to resume training with the Americans in late January and be ready for next spring's launch of Women's Professional Soccer, the second try for a pro league in America.

She starred for the Washington Freedom in the WUSA (2000-2003), and will play for the Freedom again.

"This may be the biggest compliment of my life," Wambach told USA Today when informed her name was on the list. "If they're worried about us, maybe we do have more strength as athletes and as people to speak out. This just gives me more empowerment."

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudan's Arab-dominated central government, accusing it of discrimination. Fighting has killed nearly 300,000 people and forced 2.5 million to flee, according to The Associated Press. China, which has military, diplomatic and economic ties to Sudan, has been criticized for how its international policies affect Darfur.

Wambach traveled there in 2005 to see the living conditions and how human rights are violated. She went on a 10-day tour of Africa with Right to Play, an organization that brings sports to underprivileged children. Her Thanksgiving meal was an energy bar in Kenya.

"That (trip) was more important than a holiday," she said. "You're completely out of your comfort zone. You find out more about yourself on a more human level."

She also served as a role model for women in Darfur. "We can be powerful, strong and athletic," Wambach said.

How serious was the Chinese government about its concerns? A day before the Beijing Games began, it revoked the visa of former U.S. Olympic speedskating gold medalist and Team Darfur founder Joey Cheek so he wouldn't be able to enter the country as a spectator.

"The denial of my visa is a 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," Cheek said in early August in a statement.

Cheek put his money where his mouth was in 2006. After winning gold in the Winter Games in Italy, Wambach said Cheek donated $40,000 from his silver and gold medal wins to Darfur and asked his sponsors to do the same.

"That's the question now. It's not just me or other people on the watch list," Wambach said of raising Darfur awareness. "There are other athletes who can have an impact."

According to USA Today, the nine-athlete list was given to USOC officials in a July 8 meeting with Shu Xiao, minister counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy.

"We saw absolutely no need to burden the athletes with this," USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel told USA Today via e-mail, calling China's concerns "unjustified" and "unwarranted." The USOC "communicated to the embassy in clear terms that our athletes would have the same right to free speech and free expression, consistent with what is set forth in the Olympic Charter, that they have enjoyed at previous Games," Seibel said.

"We made certain those rights would in no way be infringed upon or compromised."

Source:  Rochester Democrat and Chronicle