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Lost-boy Lomong to carry U.S. flag (at Olympics) (Former Sudanese Refugee)
Yahoo! Sports (Reuters) ^
| 8/6/2008
| Mitch Phillips
Posted on 08/06/2008 12:26:35 PM PDT by Pyro7480
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States chose former Sudanese refugee Lopez Lomong to carry their flag at Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony in a move that could embarrass Sudan and its ally China.
Lomong, who spent 10 years in a refugee camp after fleeing his native Sudan as a child, was given the honor after a vote by the team captains of the entire U.S. Olympic squad.
“This is the most exciting day ever in my life,” Lomong said in a statement by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on Wednesday.
“It is a great honor for me that my team mates chose to vote for me. The opening ceremony is the best day and the best moment of Olympic life,” added the 23-year-old, who will race in the 1,500 meters....
While Lomong will no doubt be concentrating on trying to win his race, his selection is likely to provoke extensive debate about China’s relations with Sudan.
China is a major investor in the Sudanese oil industry and sells arms to Khartoum. Critics say self-interest has led China to shield the Sudanese government from pressure over the conflict in the western region of Darfur.
Some 200,000 people have died and an estimated 2.5 million been made homeless in five years of conflict in Darfur, according to international experts....
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2008olympics; flag; immigration; oldglory; olympics; refugee; sudan; teamusa
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Heh heh :-)
1
posted on
08/06/2008 12:26:36 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
To: Pyro7480; NYer
2
posted on
08/06/2008 12:28:03 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
To: Pyro7480
Wow. Talk about living the American Dream.
3
posted on
08/06/2008 12:29:53 PM PDT
by
colorado tanker
(Number nine, number nine, number nine . . .)
To: Pyro7480
Lopez Lomong of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's 1500 meters race at the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meet in New York May 31, 2008. (Gary Hershorn/Reuters)
4
posted on
08/06/2008 12:30:11 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
To: Pyro7480
5
posted on
08/06/2008 12:31:10 PM PDT
by
headsonpikes
(Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism.)
To: Pyro7480
(second image is Lomong taking his oath of citizenship)
His carrying the flag may even eclipse when he kicks China's butt in the 1500meter.
6
posted on
08/06/2008 12:32:05 PM PDT
by
mnehring
To: Pyro7480
In your face ChiComs and Islamofascists!!!
7
posted on
08/06/2008 12:32:47 PM PDT
by
SolidWood
(Obamarxislamism, the threat to our Republic!)
To: Pyro7480
Nice ... the US Olympic team spits in the eye of China with that one.
8
posted on
08/06/2008 12:33:41 PM PDT
by
Centurion2000
(A citizen using a weapon to shoot a criminal is the ultimate act of independence from government.)
To: Pyro7480
I was hoping for Dara Torres, but this choice suits me fine.
9
posted on
08/06/2008 12:34:06 PM PDT
by
JeffChrz
To: Pyro7480
I can see it now. The open borders types who like to blur the lines between legal and illegal will use this to support an amnesty. I bet Obama and McCain both use it in their campaigns.
10
posted on
08/06/2008 12:34:57 PM PDT
by
kabar
To: kabar
What are you talking about???
11
posted on
08/06/2008 12:35:55 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
To: mnehrling
Bernard Legat, an immigrant from Kenya, is our best bet for a medal in the 1500.
12
posted on
08/06/2008 12:36:18 PM PDT
by
kabar
To: Pyro7480
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? Hear me now and believe me later.
13
posted on
08/06/2008 12:37:52 PM PDT
by
kabar
To: kabar
No need to insult me. I don’t see how the fact that he’s a naturalized citizen detracts from him carrying the flag. My own father is a naturalized citizen and he’s more patriotic than native-born liberals!
14
posted on
08/06/2008 12:40:21 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
To: Pyro7480
15
posted on
08/06/2008 12:40:46 PM PDT
by
Antoninus
(Every second spent bashing McCain is time that could be spent helping Conservatives downticket.)
To: kabar
Jennie Finch, a native-born American from La Mirada, CA is our best bet to pitch the US to yet another gold medal in women's softball.
Bring the Heat, Jennie!
16
posted on
08/06/2008 12:41:46 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
("Space may be the final frontier, But it's made in a Hollywood basement")
To: CholeraJoe
Here is a better pic of Jennie for ya.
17
posted on
08/06/2008 12:44:12 PM PDT
by
mnehring
To: CholeraJoe
Sorry folks, but she’s taken (not be me, but in any case).
18
posted on
08/06/2008 12:44:33 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." -M. Kolbe)
To: kabar
What the **** does this have to do with Lomong- a LEGAL naturalized citizen?
I guess I'll chalk this up to another political Rorschach test.
19
posted on
08/06/2008 12:45:59 PM PDT
by
mnehring
To: Pyro7480
See ... first the masks and then this. Like I said, we are there to insult them. :)
20
posted on
08/06/2008 12:46:31 PM PDT
by
BunnySlippers
(I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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