The modern olympics is about the world coming together - promoting understanding. I fully respect and support your decision to boycott but I will be watching.

Sport is at its best when it is more than just sport, but transcends the game itself in some way. Sport is at its worst when it is just about winning and losing. I wish for one moment that all politics could be put aside to support and watch beauty of the games. Having been to four Olympics as a spectator I can tell you when you are there in the midst the best of the human spirit spills out and we become people and humans and not about countries or politics.

I applaud Joey Cheek's efforts and honestly we should all do what we can to really support Dafur both as a government and individuals but Joey is not competing in these Olympics (he is a Winter Olympics speedskater) and was traveling as a private citizen to bring attention to the cause of Dafur (which again I think is great). And I hope the Chinese change their minds and allow him to go to China for his diplomatic mission. Joey Cheek has even said in the spirit of promoting understanding that he does not begrudge the Chinese these Olympic Games.

I do not agree with the Chinese government on many levels and on many topics but on the ground forgetting the government you can't believe how much these Olympics means to the Chinese people, regular people like us who have no control over their government and no freedom of speech. And to be honest for me Sudan needs to step up and stop what's happening in its land more than the Chinese who I know have a part in all of this.

And the ad dollars spent in these games are not going to China in any way but actually allow you the ability to watch the games free on broadcast television and help pay for our athletes to achieve their dreams. Consider it a sponsorship of our athletes. All you see are the commercials but the sponsorships these companies make in the games far trancends commercials like the washing machines that Sears gives to the IOC so the athletes can wash their gear or the bandages that J&J provides. There is significant funding of Olympic infrastructure that these companies provide. I prefer this method as opposed to it coming out of our taxes. And these companies are proud of their investment in the dreams of athletes and is part of why they advertise in the games. Now I won't be all pollyanna and say that they don't profit in some way from the games.

And the companies supporting the Olympics are paying for you to be able to watch them. Actually commercials in all ways fund the cost of all shows on TV. Imagine what your cable bill wouldbe like if there were no commercials. There would be alot less programming if any at all and your cost to watch TV would skyrocket.

But I am not going to punish the Chinese people for the actions of their government

For the Chinese people I hope the Games go well and that in some small aspect it brings postive change to their lives and their country.

And I hope that our athetes and all the athletes competing achieve their dreams that they have worked so hard for whether it is just competing or a medal.