Olympic Reversal: Iraq Can Go To Games

IOC Ends Ban After Iraqi Government Ensures Independence Of Its National Olympic Panel

(AP)  Iraq will be allowed to participate in the Beijing games after the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday rescinded its suspension of the country's Olympic association.

The decision came after last-minute talks during which an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.

The deadline to submit competitors' names for athletics events expires Wednesday.

Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing. Five others lost their chance to go when the final date to select competitors for archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting passed last week.

"The National Olympic Committee will have fair elections before the end of November," said Pere Miro, head of the IOC's department for relations with national Olympic committees.

Until then, Iraq's Olympic organization will be run by an interim committee proposed by its national sports federations and approved by the IOC, he said.

"We want to forget all the past," Iraq's government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press after signing the agreement in front of journalists. "We want to have real representation for the Iraqi teams and the Iraqi supporters."

The IOC suspended Iraq in May citing political interference in the country's national Olympic committee, which the government had dissolved over allegations of corruption.

Basil Abdul Mahdi, an adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sport, said last week there would be "no retreat" in Baghdad's decision to replace the disbanded Olympic committee. The hardline stance prompted concern that Iraq would not be represented in Beijing.

But eight-hour talks at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne on Tuesday involving Miro and Husain al-Musallam, director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, produced a breakthrough, allowing Iraq to have two competitors in the athletics events.

Hours before the talks, a delegation of Iraqi groups in Switzerland came to the IOC headquarters to deliver a letter to Olympic officials expressing dismay at their country's suspension and requesting the decision be overturned.

Ahmed Tabour, head of the Iraqi Cultural and Sports Committee in Switzerland, said his country was being treated unfairly by the IOC.

"Iraq was never suspended during the days of Saddam (Hussein), who personally appointed the national Olympic committee," he told The Associated Press. "The Iraqi people need hope, and sport gives them a lot of hope."

The IOC last suspended Iraq in May 2003 - weeks after U.S.-led troops toppled Saddam's regime. That ban occurred after the IOC learned of the abuse of athletes by Saddam's son Uday, the country's former Olympic chief.

The suspension was lifted a year later, allowing Iraq to take part in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens where it fielded a team of 25 athletes.

Iraq's soccer team made it to the semifinals, prompting celebrations throughout a country where violence has claimed the lives of athletes, coaches and staff.

The Olympic cycling coach, national wrestling coach, a soccer federation member and a prominent volleyball player have been killed, most in 2006 during the height of sectarian slayings.

The two athletes who will represent Iraq this year have benefited from an IOC solidarity program that allowed them to train at sports facilities abroad, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

Although the duo failed to meet the qualifying standards to go to Beijing, they were allowed to take part under the IOC's wild card program designed to ensure every country is represented at the games.

The fact that they are unlikely to add to Iraq's overall tally of one bronze medal since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948 is no great concern, said al-Dabbagh.

"Sport is really important for us in Iraq right now," he said. "It brings the people together."

[stn_sage]

With all the money that Bush and Bremer passed out on the streets of Baghdad and/or "lost" over there---

The Iraqis should be able to buy their way onto the victors'' stand and be declared winners of the ''Games!

[meanbiker]

Let IRan play in the games.. The US will kick their @sses there too... lol...

Honestly I don''t know why the athletes don''t boycott the Olympics.. Poor air quality because of pollution, human rights violations in China and all the other cr@p that china pulls.. But I guess it is all about $$$$$$$$$....

I know I won''t be watching the Olympics..

[summarex]

First they expel Iraq to express their indignation on accout of the United States''s rape and plunder of that country. Then they back off when the United States gets mad.

Of course they should not have expelled Iraq for political reasons but once they did it, they should have stood their ground.

Cowards trying to be brave!

[erb0087]

"Iraq is not yet a sovereign nation, with that U.S. military force there.

Posted by hbevis

IRAQ has more sovereignty then any occupied nation on earth ever has. There has never been and occupied country that receives Billions from the occupier. The Line of *** from the Anti-American Democrats like hbevis is just another ****** about America and a reason to take this story and make it about Bush.

Posted by demslie2u at 07:55 AM : Jul 30, 2008
---------------------------------------

Please. sir. You owe hbevis an apology.

hbevis was quoting me.

[jmurrieta1]

The IOC will pander to the Chinese dictators by approving the suppression of journalism during the Olympic game--but they''re all self-righteous about whether Iraqis "deserve" to participate? Like the Iraqi athletes have any say in the occupation government?

The IOC is ever compliant with dictators--wouldn''t want to interrupt the gravy train cash flow to this unaccountable group!

[b6s3d2y4]

we are eskimos, let us play in the olympics.

[hbevis]

Iraq is not yet a sovereign nation, with that U.S. military force there.

They should have waited for full independence, before sending a team to the Olympics.

I always thought it was wrong that East Germany sent a team. They were not an independent state at that time.

But this is just my opinion.

Posted by erb0087 at 02:37 AM : Jul 30, 2008

I KIND OF AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY. ON THE OTHER HAND MAYBE IT WILL GIVE THEM SOME SENSE OF DOING SOMETHING WORTH WHILE. EVEN IF THEY DON''T WIN ANYTHING THEY WILL HAVE AT LEAST BEEN ABLE TO DO THE BEST THEY COULD DO.

[hbevis]

Iraq is not yet a sovereign nation, with that U.S. military force there.

They should have waited for full independence, before sending a team to the Olympics.

I always thought it was wrong that East Germany sent a team. They were not an independent state at that time.

But this is just my opinion.

Posted by erb0087 at 02:37 AM : Jul 30, 2008

I KIND OF AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY. ON THE OTHER HAND MAYBE IT WILL GIVE THEM SOME SENSE OF DOING SOMETHING WORTH WHILE. EVEN IF THEY DON''T WIN ANYTHING THEY WILL HAVE AT LEAST BEEN ABLE TO DO THE BEST THEY COULD DO.

[erb0087]

"Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing"

David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, in the two man synchronized swimming event.

[erb0087]

Iraq is not yet a sovereign nation, with that U.S. military force there.

They should have waited for full independence, before sending a team to the Olympics.

I always thought it was wrong that East Germany sent a team. They were not an independent state at that time.

But this is just my opinion.