Iraq Olympics ban confirmed

[DeclinetoState]

Thu Jul 24, 10:06 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a ban on Iraq from competing in the Beijing Games in a major blow to seven Iraqi athletes who had hoped to travel to China this August, an IOC letter said.

In the letter dated July 23 and addressed to the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Jassim Mohammed Jaffer, the IOC said it was moving ahead with a ban first imposed on Iraq's athletes last month.

"In spite of all the joint efforts of IOC and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia), over the last months to find a positive solution with the Iraqi government authorities, we regretfully inform you that the decision of the IOC executive board dated 4 June 2008 to suspend the National Olympic Committee of Iraq is confirmed," said the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP on Thursday.

. . .

The IOC suspended Iraq for "political interference" in its national Olympic committee which was sacked last month and replaced by a new panel headed by Jaafar.
Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080724/wl_mideast_afp/oly2008iocirqban_080724140649)

WTF? Since when has "political interference" bothered the IOC?

[Beowulf]

Sorry, but the only losers in this are the 7 athletes who have spent years of training for nothing.

[Taylor1]

Sorry, but the only losers in this are the 7 athletes who have spent years of training for nothing.

Yup, thats sad... :sad:

[Wolfcounsel]

I may get my ass kicked for this, but, screw the Olympics!

[Beowulf]

No, WC, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I enjoy SOME of the Summer games but I much prefer the winter games. I'll be tuning in if for no other reason to see the home country's team not do as well as they think they will.

[Wolfcounsel]

"No, WC, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it." --Beowulf

Well, I did expect the peanut gallery to chime in, and they didn't.:D

[Riverboat]

Mmmm! Peanuts! I like the Cajun-style peanuts, with beer!

I'll drift in and out of the Olympics because I love watching those girls fly through the air on beams and vaults and mats. Is Karolyi still coaching? I'll keep you updated, Counselor. ;)

[Wolfcounsel]

"I'll drift in and out of the Olympics because I love watching those girls fly through the air on beams and vaults and mats. Is Karolyi still coaching? I'll keep you updated, Counselor. ;)" --Riverboat

There hasn't been anybody as good as Nadia Comaneci, so the rest of them are nothing but glitter. My wife loves that segment, though. They should get rid of team competitions like basketball, volleyball, et cetera.

[Riverboat]

I'm with you on the basketball competition. Competition? Foot. The players on the U.S. are not by any stretch amateurs, which I thought was the underlying purpose of the Olympics. That's like putting the high school varsity team on a court against the YMCA children's team.

[DeclinetoState]

They should get rid of the "judged" sports (gymnastics, boxing, diving), since so many of the judges are drunk, biased against the U.S. athletes, etc. Keep the running, swimming, and team sports.

I'm with you on the basketball competition. Competition? Foot. The players on the U.S. are not by any stretch amateurs, which I thought was the underlying purpose of the Olympics. That's like putting the high school varsity team on a court against the YMCA children's team.
:bsflag:

Other teams around the world were fielding highly paid "amateur" basketball teams long before FIBA voted to allow NBA players (many of whom are from other countries) to play in the Olympics. The Soviet team that won the gold medal in '72 in the controversial finish was really a professional team that had played over 400 games together over a period of a few years. Letting the U.S. field a team that included NBA players merely leveled the playing field.

Who is the defending gold-medal champion in men's basketball? Hint: it ain't the U.S. Who won the silver medal? Hint: it ain't the U.S., either.

[Wyatt_Junker]

The olympics are in China this year. What's next? Syria? Iran? Maybe North Korea. That would be a good move and a sign of how fair and non-judgmental we are, globally.

In Iran, there'd be no female athletes either. That would speed up the entire stupid event.

Maybe Darfur also and instead of the 100 meter hurdles, they could jump landmines.

I'd watch that shit too.

[Beowulf]

The olympics are in China this year. What's next? Syria? Iran? Maybe North Korea. That would be a good move and a sign of how fair and non-judgmental we are, globally.

In Iran, there'd be no female athletes either. That would speed up the entire stupid event.

Maybe Darfur also and instead of the 100 meter hurdles, they could jump landmines.

I'd watch that shit too.

:rotflmbo: Never a loss for words, eh Wyatt??:rotflmbo:

[DeclinetoState]

Maybe Darfur also and instead of the 100 meter hurdles, they could jump landmines.Gives a whole new meaning to "elimination rounds."

[DeclinetoState]

By FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 29, 7:49 PM ET<br>
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee agreed Tuesday to allow Iraq to participate in the Beijing games, reversing itself after Baghdad pledged to ensure the independence of its national Olympics panel.

The decision followed last-minute talks between Iraqi officials and the IOC ahead of Wednesday's deadline to submit competitors' names for track and field events. The Olympics begin Aug. 8.

Iraq is now expected to send two athletes to Beijing to compete in track and field. The decision came too late for five other hopefuls in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. The deadline to submit names for those sports expired last week.
Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_olympics)

Was there any question about Iraq's participation in the Olympics when Uday Hussein was running the national Olympic program and abusing the athletes (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2003/03/24/son_of_saddam/)?