In an effort to raise awareness about human rights in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, former Chinese National Team basketball player Kai Chen, ran a 25km run through the heart of Sydney last Sunday.
Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with Olympic freedom slogans and images of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, the 54-year-old's journey began at Olympic Park and finished at Sydney Harbour.
Flanked by supporters at Mrs Macquarie's Chair the Los Angeles-based author explained his dream of freeing the Chinese athletes from being pawns for a suppressive regime.
"I am here for my dream, that one day Chinese athletes will no longer be tools and lackeys for a government that suppresses their own individuality and freedom," Mr Chen said.
As the 2008 Games approach Mr Chen said his conscience led him to embark on an "Olympic freedom" campaign and the promotion of his Olympic Freedom T-shirt during their travels to China.
"I hope more people will stand up and speak out".
Mr Chen said he is appealing to all athletes and tourists that will visit Beijing next year during the Games to take some action to support Chinese people.
"I want to tell all the athletes that if and when you go to Beijing to attend the Olympics next year; remember to tell the Chinese people that the Tiananmen Square massacre indeed happened," said Mr Chen.
"And make sure that you make some gestures, in any way you feel comfortable, to show that you stand with freedom loving people in China and not with the illegitimate and despotic government."
The Beijing-born former national basketball star explained that his family was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution in the 1970's, because some of his relatives resided in anti-communist Taiwan.
During the 1980s he "escaped" to the US on a student visa and married an American.
Kai Chen released his autobiography this year entitled One in a Billion . It documents his rise to basketball stardom, tasting freedom while playing international matches and his family tragedies during the Mao era.
Mr Chen aims to continue the next leg of his Olympic freedom run in Taiwan.
His Olympic Freedom Run series began on August 5 in Los Angeles, US, and last week he participated in the Global Human Rights Torch Relay in Melbourne.
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