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| Iraq | |
| 2 Iraqi Athletes Set for Beijing After IOC Lifts Ban | |
| 2008-07-30 | |
The agreement reversed a decision last week by the International Olympic Committee to ban Iraq from competing because of allegations that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had compromised the independence of the national Olympic committee. The government dissolved the panel in May and replaced it with a new group headed by a cabinet minister. But after negotiations between Iraqi officials and the international committee at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, the government agreed to reestablish an independent committee and hold transparent elections for it by November, Olympic officials said. They added that five government representatives could attend the Beijing Games as observers. "We look forward to seeing the Iraqi flag in Beijing," the president of the international committee, Jacques Rogge, said in a statement. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Presumably they were independent when Saddam's son Uday was president of the Olympic committee? Shhh! We're the IOC! You can't talk to us that way! |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2008-07-30 12:21 |
| #2 allegations that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had compromised the independence of the national Olympic committee Presumably they were independent when Saddam's son Uday was president of the Olympic committee? |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-07-30 11:10 |
| #1 The decision comes too late for five members of Iraq's seven-person team, because the registration deadline for their sports has passed. Headline shoud read - 5 Iraqi athletes get screwed by the IOC. Good for the other two guys - enjoy the Beijing smog! |
| Posted by: Raj 2008-07-30 08:41 |