We're accustomed to Olympics-themed ads that urge the athletes on to victory. It's a sign of how unusual things are this year that a full-page ad ran this week in The New York Times urging at least one athlete to “speak up for Tibet.” Placed by a group called Students for a Free Tibet and its allies in the International Tibet Support Network, the ad directed athletes/readers to a Web site, which in turn suggested ways they could display solidarity with Tibet while at the Games. Among the proposed methods: shaving one’s head (in tribute to “the thousands of Tibetan monks and nuns who have been killed or jailed leading nonviolent protests in their homeland”), raising the Tibetan flag or dedicating a medal to Tibet. If nothing else, the possibility of such actions will add suspense to the often-tedious medal ceremonies.

—Posted by Mark Dolliver