Press Pass Denied After Reporter Provides Athletes' Testimonies to Chinese Underground Church Newspapers
by Staff
June 15, 2010
MADISON, Wisc., (christiansunite.com) -- For the first time in eight years, USA Track and Field (USATF) has denied Steve McConkey, President of 4 WINDS, a press pass to the USA Championships.
USATF Media has not responded to emails asking for details on why a press pass for the USA Championships was denied. The meet will be held in Des Moines, Iowa on June 23-27.
Recently, 4 WINDS worked on the following:
4 WINDS put 27 USA athlete testimonies into the underground Chinese church, 100 million strong, before and during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Four Olympians who had testimonies distributed into the underground church won 3 golds and 2 silvers. Only two of those athletes were predicted to win medals. All athletes were updated periodically on the status of their testimonies months before and during the Olympics. Only one athlete complained and that athlete's testimony was removed immediately.
Initially, the testimonies of the athletes were on the ministry website. They were free to be used by Christians throughout the world. Three Christian organizations asked to take them into China. 4 WINDS allowed all organizations or youth groups to use the testimonies. Some of the testimonies are currently on the BeyondTheUltimate.org site sponsored by Athletes in Action.
Also, Christian testimonies of athletes were given to various publications throughout the world for eight years. 4 WINDS has never charged money for the testimonies. Last month, 4 WINDS provided a major Christian publication with 1972 800m gold medalist Dave Wottle's testimony.
In 2003, ChristianInvestigator.com, the news-apologetics website of 4 WINDS, was the only organization that protested the IOC decision to allow transgender athletes in the Olympics. The debate was re-ignited after Caster Semenya (South Africa) won the 2009 World Championships 800m for women. The case is currently being decided by the International Association of Athletic Federations.
During fall 2009, ChristianInvestigator.com protested that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was working closely with the United Nations (UN) in promoting political causes, after the UN gave the IOC observer status. During that time, the IOC urged athletes to speak up for global warming despite questionable science practices. Again, ChristianInvestigator.com was the only organization that protested. The IOC should be neutral in politics, but history shows this has not always been the case.
