Earlier this month, several leading Darfur advocacy organizations, including Save Darfur, Genocide Intervention Network and ENOUGH Project, released a statement calling on world leaders to boycott the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Beijing unless UNAMID is effectively protecting civilians in Darfur before the ceremonies begin. "Beijing should not be allowed to bask in the warm glow of peace and brotherhood associated with the opening games if China is still underwriting atrocities in Darfur and still has not done what it should to bring peace and security to Sudan," the statement reads.  

Since the release of this statement on April 3, all three presidential candidates, have publicly called on President Bush to not attend the Olympic Ceremonies, making the following statements: