Out in Sports: June 2008 Archives

John Amaechi, the first British player to have a career in the elite American basketball league the NBA, has been named an Olympic ambassador for Amnesty International.

John, who will be in Beijing for the Olympics, came out last year in terrific his book "Man in the Middle." He said in a statement: "I welcome the opportunity to work with Amnesty International and invite others in the sports community to join me in giving voice to the millions who remain oppressed in China. As we celebrate the pride of our Olympians, let us not ignore those who are executed, tortured and ill-treated as they fight for their freedom of expression and fight against the restrictions placed upon them as individual people by their own government. Those with influence must not sit by idly as atrocities are committed by the powerful towards the oppressed. Let us join together in giving voice to the people of China until they can speak without reprisal for themselves."

John played on the England team that won bronze in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne He is also only the sixth professional athlete from the four major American sports to come out as gay, and the first in the NBA.