| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Iraq criticized after disbanding Olympic committee |
| 2008-05-22 |
| BAGHDAD (AP) - The Iraqi government ordered the disbanding of the country's national Olympic committee because of questions over its legitimacy, drawing a harsh rebuke Wednesday from the international umbrella organization. The Cabinet made the decision during a session Tuesday, saying it would form a temporary committee until a new one can be elected. The Cabinet said the temporary committee, made up of lawmakers and experts, will be in place until elections for a new one are held in three months. It said it took the step because the 11-member national committee "is considered without complete legitimacy because its quorum is not complete." Iraq Olympic Committee chairman Ahmed al-Hijiya and about 30 other sports officials were kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006. While some were released, al-Hijiya and three other committee members have not been heard of since. Two other members subsequently resigned. There have long been tensions between the government and Iraq's sports federations. Under Olympic rules, the federations are supposed to be independent. Haider Ali Lazim, a member of the national committee, rejected the order, accusing the government of interfering in its work and warning that "invisible hands want to destroy Iraqi sports." He said he and colleagues had contacted the International Olympic Committee and said the order could bring sanctions that would prevent Iraq from taking part in the Beijing Olympics in August. In Lausanne, Switzerland, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau called the Cabinet order "serious interference from the Iraqi government." She said the IOC has asked the Iraqi minister of youth and sports to "to respect the autonomy of the NOC and to re-establish its legitimate office bearers." The issue will be discussed by the IOC Executive Board in June, she said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 One of Uday's Olympic training aids. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-05-22 13:01 |
| #1 Wasn't Uday Hussein the last Olympic Committee Chairman? I think he was, he also carried a straight razor around to help "train and motivate" the athletes if I remember right. So anything would probably be an improvement. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-05-22 12:48 |