Mitt Romney, savior of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympics, is lashing out at the Chinese government for revoking the travel visa of former olympian Joey Cheek because he is a political activist.

Mitt who is on his way to Beijing for the Summer Olympics, called the decision to revoke Cheek's visa "out of the Olympic spirit." He's going to lobby Chinese leaders to reconsider. Romney told the Boston Globe:

I hope the Chinese government is able to reconsider this,Joey Cheek is by no means an out-of-control radical. He's a very serious, sober, responsible individual, and his support for human rights certainly can't be in any way a detraction from the games.

Romney personally helped China bid for the 2008 games.

The Chinese officials know of my involvement in the past and will hopefully give consideration to my request, perhaps on a personal basis.

Cheek, above, is a former Olympic speedskater and co-founder of Team Darfur, a coalition of athletes working for peace in Sudan's Darfur region. China has economic ties to Sudan and refuses to pressure the African nation to improve its human rights record.