SYMBOLIC OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY LAUNCHES IN AFRICA
Sudan Tribune, Sudan
23209
Aug 9 2007
International Press Tele-Conference On August 15 Symbolic Olympic
Torch Relay Launches In Africa: Relay Will Go To Other Genocide Sites
To Call For End To Darfur Crisis
Mia Farrow and Darfur Advocates Launch Olympic Torch Relay and Call
on International Community to End the Suffering in Darfur
What: Press Teleconference from Kigali, Rwanda – (photo/videos of
trip available at as of Aug. 14)
Why: Dream for Darfur, a global advocacy campaign, is organizing the
symbolic Olympic Torch Relay to urge the international community,
with a special appeal to the Chinese government in its role as Olympic
host, to use all influence possible to bring security to civilians
in Darfur. The press conference will cover the first two stops on
the relay, and discuss why advocates are staging this event.
The Torch will be lit at a small ceremony near Darfur and then travel
to Kigali, Rwanda on August 15 for a more public launch. From Africa,
the Torch will travel to other countries associated with genocide:
Armenia, Bosnia, Germany, and Cambodia. The Relay will end in Hong
Kong in December. In solidarity, a US symbolic Olympic Torch will
pass through 25 states (Sept. to Dec. 2007). There will also be a
relay in Canada. Long-term, the campaign aims to galvanize a global
anti-genocide movement.
When: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15h00: Kigali 09h00: US Eastern
Standard Time 14h00: London 21h00: Hong Kong
Where: VIA TELEPHONE In the US, call: 1-800-475-3716 International,
call +44-0-800-028-9769 (UK number)
RSVP: Matt Chandler, +1-303-832-2444 (o)/ +1-303-523-2855 (m) /
[email protected]
Who: On the teleconference: Mia Farrow, actor and Darfur advocate
(miafarrow.org) Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World
Service Ira Newble, NBA player on the Cleveland Cavaliers Jill Savitt,
Director, Dream for Darfur Eric Reeves, Sudan Advisor, Dream for
Darfur and Professor, Smith College
Background: Dream for Darfur, a global advocacy campaign, is organizing
its symbolic Olympic Torch Relay to urge the international community,
with a special appeal to the Chinese government in its role as Olympic
host, to use all influence to bring security to civilians in Darfur
before the ’08 Olympic Games begin. Dream for Darfur’s symbolic Olympic
Torch Relay seeks to use the Olympic ideals of peace and brotherhood
to raise awareness about Darfur today.
Details at
PARTICIPANTS
Mia Farrow, an actor, is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. An
outspoken Darfur human rights advocate, she has gone on seven missions
to the Darfur region.
Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service (AJWS),
an international development and human rights organization. She is
also a founding member of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Ira Newble, basketball player on the Cleveland Cavaliers team,
organized 12 other NBA players to write an open letter to President
Hu of China about the Darfur conflict.
Jill Savitt, human rights activist, is the Director of Dream for
Darfur, which runs the Olympic Dream for Darfur campaign.
Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College, is an expert on Sudan
() and acts as the Sudan Advisor for Dream for
Darfur.
Symbolism of the Olympic Torch Relay The Olympic torch has been
associated with the Games from classical times. However, the torch
relay was introduced to the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany as a means
to celebrate the Third Reich. Dream for Darfur has therefore, adapted
the torch relay both to commemorate past victims and as an evocative
rallying cry to end the first genocide of the 21st century.
NOT A BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN Olympic Dream for Darfur is not a boycott
campaign, nor does it support a boycott of the Olympics. Our campaign
believes that the sports arena is the best forum for countries to
"do battle" and we do not advocate withdrawal by any nation from this
essential and important forum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
