Clooney pressures Beijing sponsor

BOX-OFFICE favourite George Clooney is stepping up the pressure on one of the main Olympic sponsors to take a stand over China’s foreign policy, the BBC reported yesterday.

A long-time critic of China’s role in the Darfur crisis in Sudan, Clooney advertises Omega Watches, one of the worldwide partners for Beijing 2008.

“I have talked with Omega [about China] for over a year and will continue to talk to Omega,” the Hollywood superstar told BBC Sport.

Clooney’s intervention follows the decision of US film director Steven Spielberg to withdraw as an artistic adviser to the Beijing Games in protest at the situation in Darfur.

Clooney said: “Last year I took Olympic athletes Joey Cheek and Tegla Loroupe to Beijing to meet with the heads of the Chinese government. I will continue to ask China to use its considerable leverage with the government of Sudan.”

Omega Watches is one of 12 “worldwide Olympic partners” for Beijing and has been the official timekeeper for every Olympics since 1932.

Clooney’s comments were confirmed by Nick Hayek, chief executive of the Swatch Group, which owns Omega.

He said: “It is our policy not to get involved in politics because it would not serve the cause of the sport which is one most noble human endeavours for creating understanding and peace.”

Mr Hayek said Omega would continue to monitor the situation in Darfur.