Sudanese Refugee Lopez Lomong Chosen To Carry US Flag For Olympic Opening Ceremonies By Fellow Athletes

"Thanks to Lopez Lomong, it's good to believe in the Olympics again" from the Los Angeles Times reports that the US captains of the Beijing Games have shown class and sent a strong message with their choice of Sudanese refugee and Team Darfur coalition member Lopez Lomong to carry the US flag for the opening cermonies Friday night. 

"Beijing Reality Show"

Early in the day, the USOC had all but disowned Olympic speedskating champion Joey Cheek, whose human-rights work with the Save Darfur group undoubtedly led Chinese officials to revoke his visa and prevent him from attending the Olympics.

The USOC willingly sold out Cheek, its SportsMan of the Year for 2006, to minimize the potential for political protest and allow its Chinese hosts to save face. He was a "private citizen," said Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive, so he would just have to fend for himself.

And it's not the least bit cynical to think that in return, the U.S. might expect China's backing of Chicago's bid to play host to the 2016 Summer Games.

With one noble gesture the rank-and-file members of the U.S. team put their leaders to shame, asking Lomong -- a member of the Team Darfur athletes' coalition -- to lead them onto the field Friday.