GOAL Welcomes Spielberg's Olympic Decision

GOAL has congratulated filmmaker Stephen Spielberg on his decision to withdraw his support from relation to the Beijing Olympic Games, and has called on the Irish Government to threaten to withdraw their team from the Games, unless China permits to the deployment of an international force in Darfur.

In a statement GOAL CEO John O'Shea said, "Spielberg has shown courage. It is time for the International community to follow his example.

"It's abundantly clear that China is preventing the deployment of the UN force. And this is resulting in horrendous misery for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.

"The Olympics are important - but not as important as the lives of Darfur's impoverished inhabitants"

O'Shea believes that China will move on Darfur only if the staging of the Beijing Games is put in doubt

"The Chinese see this as their greatest ever opportunity to impress the international community," he said.

"Threaten to take it from them - and they may listen to the cries of Dafur's women and children"