The International Olympic Committee ruled today that Iraq will not be able to participate in the Summer Olympics after Iraq's government replaced elected Olympic Committee members with officials not recognized by the IOC.
That means the two Iraqi rowers, two Iraqi sprinters, one Iraqi archer, one Iraqi weightlifter and one Iraqi judo competitor who had qualified for the Summer Games cannot attend.
"The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. "Clearly, we'd very much like to have seen Iraq's athletes in Beijing. We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government's actions."
The Getty Images photo shows an Iraqi Olympic swimming coach giving instructions to team members from a row boat in the Tigris river.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-25-2008 @ 10:11AM
Edith said...
I find this story so sad. What Iraqi citizens need right now is a distraction from the strife in their country and something/someone to be proud of. How unfortunate for the athletes who have trained long and hard to have this taken away from them.
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7-25-2008 @ 5:52PM
Lorien said...
The IOC found it acceptable to hold the Olympics in China, a country that does much disservice to their people, yet won't allow Iraqi civilians to compete. Absolutely ridiculous. If holding the games in China wasn't reason enough to boycott them, this certainly is.
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7-27-2008 @ 11:09PM
George B Vieto said...
The IOC dropped the ball on this call. The Iraqis have a right to compete in this year's Olympics but nooo the IOC refused. Bummer.
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7-28-2008 @ 11:05AM
Jaime said...
Shame on the IOC. Not allowing the Iraqi athletes to participate in Bejin contradicts the very principle of keeping politics out of the olympic process. They are been penalized for the political affiliation and make up of the Iraqi Olympic committee? Does make the sense...it's wrong, wrong, wrong. And it sends the wrong message: if we don't like the politics of your country and it's olympic committee, we'll bar your athletes from the Olympics.
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7-29-2008 @ 4:23PM
Diane said...
Two Iraqi rowers, Two Iraqi sprinters, One Iraqi archer, One Iraqi weightlifter and One Iraqi judo competitor who had qualified for the Summer Games cannot attend because Iraq's government replaced elected Olympic Committee members with officials not recognized by the IOC. What is Iraq's reasons for replacing the members? Dang shame cause these athletes have trained long and hard in their sports to qualified just to participate in the Olympics. Shame on the Goverment for doing an injustice to these athletes. I don't blame the IOC security is a must now a days to protect all athletes.
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