View topic - Iraq will be allowed to compete in next month's Olympic Game

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Pretty big about face by the IOC.
Good for sports, good for the games, good for the world.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/29/iraq.olympics/index.html?eref=rss_world

Iraq will be allowed to compete in next month's Olympic Games in China after agreeing to restore its independent national Olympic panel, the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday.


Sprinter Dana Hussain is one of two Iraqi athletes cleared to compete in the Beijing Summer Olympics.

The IOC said it lifted its ban on Iraq's athletes, clearing the country to send two track competitors to the games in Beijing. Because of deadlines for competitors to enter the games, five other athletes Iraq had planned to send won't be allowed to compete, the IOC said.

However, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said at least three and as many as five of the athletes may eventually be allowed to compete.

The IOC barred Iraq from participating in the games last month, saying Iraq violated Olympic rules on government interference by disbanding the country's independent National Olympic Committee, or NOC, in May and replacing it with one headed by a government official.

After the IOC met with Iraqi officials in Switzerland on Tuesday, the parties agreed to restore Iraq's committee. The deal will allow Iraq to hold elections for its Olympic committee "no later than the end of November 2008," an IOC statement said.
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