McClatchy Washington Bureau

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BEIJING — Solomon Bayoh, a sprinter from Sierra Leone, is not a dumb jock. Neither is Germany's Frank Dehne. Nor South Africa's Katherine Meaklim. Nor Mirjam Melchers of the Netherlands.

All of these Olympians lodging at the Athletes' Village had thoughtful things to say about Tibet, Darfur and China's lack of human rights.

But they will let their muscles do the talking during the Olympics.

If they should make it to the medal podium, don't expect a Tommie Smith/John Carlos display of conscientious outrage. They're not apathetic, but they're not activists, either.

"It's good that people are reminded of issues, but the Olympics don't present the right moment for political statements," said Melchers, a cyclist who will ride past the Great Wall during Saturday's road race. "We shouldn't feel guilty about being here. Not everything is OK in China, not in the way the government treats certain people or regions. But we're here for one reason - to get the best out of ourselves."

Meaklin, a swimmer, has no plans to protest or wear a T-shirt to call attention to any of the various problems dogging China's bid to become a sympathetic superpower.

"If you believe strongly in a cause, this is an excellent stage," Meaklin said. "But I don't believe anyone should detract from the spirit of the Olympics. We don't want to tear it apart."

Her country, shunned for years because of apartheid, throws its coming-out party in 2010, as host of the World Cup. So she understands the spotlight China is under.

But the People's Republic has thus far delivered on none of the most meaningful promises for the Olympics that were supposed to showcase a newly open, tolerant, environmentally-aware society. Nothing new on the eve of Opening Ceremonies. The air is noxious. Censorship is rampant. Security is oppressive. Dissent is quashed.

Let's not be too superior. When the U.S. looks in the mirror it sees warts. The difference is that intelligent Americans are willing to criticize, and don't get thrown in jail when they do.

The International Olympic Committee took a gamble when it awarded the Olympics to China, and it did so on behalf of its 63 corporate sponsors.

China has had seven years to prepare, yet it continues to blunder, arrogantly. The latest was China's revocation of Joey Cheek's visa 24 hours before his flight to Beijing. Cheek, the speedskater who won gold and silver medals at the 2006 Winter Games and gave his $40,000 bonus to an African children's charity, is co-founder of Team Darfur, a group of athletes who support peace in Sudan's Darfur region, where the World Court has declared a genocide is occurring.

Cheek was coming to China, which is Sudan's chief trading partner, not to make a stink but to keep pushing for a resolution. China could have let him come, knowing Cheek is a humanitarian, not a rabble-rouser. Instead, China is giving him extra publicity.

The U.S. Olympic Committee - which actually made its cyclists apologize for embarrassing China by wearing the pollution-filtering face masks its own physiologists gave them! - made not a peep of complaint about Cheek's banishment.

China, of all the places the IOC could have picked, perfectly captures how politics and the Olympics are as inseparable as yin and yang.

Even President George W. Bush sounded coherent Thursday in challenging China's human rights record. Beijing is ripe for comment from athletes as they take center stage. Few will speak up.

Carolina Kluft explains their quandary. She'd like to wear a bracelet or temporary tattoo in support of Tibet, but fears disqualification. The IOC prohibits political statements at its venues.

"If everyone was allowed to make political statements during the Olympics it would be a propaganda party and not a sports party," Kluft said. "However, I will say what I think if anybody asks me."

It's regrettable but obvious why a superstar like Kobe Bryant chooses not to use his influence for the greater good. He's got a bland image and millions in endorsements to protect. As does Tiger Woods. They're following the example of Michael Jordan.

Alas, the outspoken Muhammad Ali is silent now. Arthur Ashe is dead. Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova are still trying. And the image of Smith and Carlos raising their gloved fists in Mexico City still stirs the heart, 40 years later.

Wispy Mia Marrow, who has met both Janjaweed gunmen and their victims in Darfur villages, has more guts than any of our current brawny "warriors" - one of their favorite terms.

But we do have Cheek. We have softball player Jessica Mendoza, who intends to use the Village cafeteria as a forum for discussion on Darfur, Afghanistan and human rights.

"I love that it's an election year so I can throw out lots of topics," she said.

We have runner Lopez Lomong, once a "Lost Boy" from Sudan and now the flag bearer for his adopted United States in Friday's Opening Ceremonies. He's on Team Darfur. If he should make it to the podium or take a victory lap, he'll wave U.S. and Sudan flags. That's not divisive. It's inspirational, which is supposed to be what the Olympics are all about.