Iraq Olympics ban confirmed

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

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.

"We deeply regret this outcome which severely harms the Iraqi Olympic and Sports Movement and the Iraqi athletes but which is unfortunately imposed by the circumstances."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080724/wl_mideast_afp/oly2008iocirqban_080724140649

[robcon]

1. Disgusting display of arrogance by the IOC.

The reason for the ban: "The IOC had warned of sanctions after Iraq disbanded its Olympic committee and other sports bodies on May 21, 2008."

Gee, d'ya think any other nations have interference in the their Olympic Committees by politicians? :sarcasm:

[comtec]

2. W H A T ? ! ? ! ? !

Can some one explain to me how THE FUCK they can DENY Iraqi athletes and yet are OK WITH CHINA?!?!?!

[SteelPenguin]

3. Dening the Iraqi Athletes is just disgusting

I understand their needing to deal with the NOC of Iraq, but taking it out on the Athletes...Just insane.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Yet, Iran WILL be competing--53 athletes, no less

:wtf: Banning Iraqi athletes :wtf: :grr: :mad:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/wires/07/24/2080.ap.me.oly.iran.hercules.0160/

Iran readies for Beijing Olympics, but 'Iranian Hercules' to miss games


TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -State television says Iran is sending to the Beijing Olympics its largest contingent of athletes since the 1976 Montreal games but that the country's best known athlete, weightlifter "Iranian Hercules'' Hossein Rezazadeh, will stay home.

In a Thursday report, it says the superheavyweight Rezazadeh, who won gold in Sydney and Athens, has been advised by doctors to stay home to avoid "heavy and stressful activity.''

Rezazadeh hasn't competed on the international stage since injuring a knee in a traffic accident last year.

The 53 athletes going to Beijing include three women who will compete in taekwondo, shooting and boating. Iranian women are allowed to compete in sports that require taking off their Islamic headdress, but only in female-only arenas.

[thewiseguy]

15. Do you even know why the Iraqi team was banned?

What does Iran have to do with this at all?

[Whoa_Nelly]

24. My bad...didn't read through the whole article

re: the Iraq Olympics Committee being disbanded.

Still, would have been good to have the seven athletes from Iraq being able to compete under the Olympics flag.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. Tell me again

how the Olympics are above politics.

Assholes.

[bdamomma]

6. oh, that just sucks, the IOC just sucks to keep those athletes from

competing.

[happygoluckytoyou]

7. 2 way street

"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,"

OR AS I READ IT....

"In spite of all the joint efforts of CHINA, over the last months to find a positive solution , I regretfully inform you that the decision of MY FAMILY dated TODAY to suspend VIEWING anything to do with the CHINA Olympics is confirmed,"

..............freedom of speech works in TWO directions !!!

[SpiralHawk]

8. One must wonder if the Republicon Homelanders have their stinky fingers involved in this

Just because ... it always turns out that Republicon Homelanders are at the bottom of every unjust or corrupt development that comes down the pike...

[Demeter]

9. Now That's Just Petty

Sure hope there's no sucking up to BushCo going on there....:eyes:

[MasonJar]

10. Why? Iraq has done nothing, but be attacked.

[helderheid]

11. Another link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25830455

Iraq banned from Beijing Summer Olympics
IOC move comes after country disbands National Olympic Committee

NBCSports.com news services
updated 46 minutes ago

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - IOC says Iraq will not compete at Beijing Olympics because of government interference.

Iraq has been banned because of a government decision to disband the country's National Olympic Committee, a senior official of the committee said on Thursday.

"This morning we were informed of the final decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the membership of the Iraqi Olympic Committee," Hussein al-Amidi, the general secretary of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said.

Seven Iraqi athletes had hoped to travel to compete in the Games.

[elehhhhna]

12. Let's put them on the US team, then. We think we own Iraq, anyway.

[LynneSin]

13. Yet Zimbabwe can send a team

Along with Iran?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics#Participating_NOCs

Go thru this list - there are dozens of country less deserving to be at the Olympics than Iraq.

[David__77]

14. But they are independent countries. Iraq is a colony.

I'm not sure that colonies should be represented. Iraq is obviously not an independent country.

[WriteDown]

18. That is just silly....

Better look into Japan and Germany then too.

[WriteDown]

19. The corruption of the IOC knows no limits....

Anybody else remember the 2002 bribery scandal? Never even a thorough investigation.

edited for my poor grammar.

[thewiseguy]

20. Why did Iraq's government disbanded their NOC?

The rules are the rules and they are pretty clear.

[The Croquist]

30. Here is an article explaining why they disbanded the committee from 05/22/08

http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/world/2008/05/22/iraq_olympic_committee_disbanded

"The Iraqi government has ordered the disbanding of the country's national Olympic committee because of questions over its legitimacy, drawing a harsh rebuke from the international umbrella organization."

The 11 member committee was kidnapped in 2006. 3 are still missing and 2 have since resigned. So that means that only 6 of the original board members are left. In a country with 3 distinct, feuding ethnic groups that is interesting. I wonder if the ethnic makeup of the committee changed?

I like this line:
"Under Olympic rules, the federations are supposed to be independent."

Are these IOC guys kidding me? They didn't seem that having Uday Hussein, head of the Iraqi Olympic committee when his father was President. Of course maybe that was because Saddam was so popular. After all in 2002 Saddam won re-election 11,445,638 - 0 with 100% of the voters voting. Now that's popular!

PS: The IOC can kiss my ass.

[David__77]

21. You think Iraq is as independent as Germany?

There may indeed have been an argument that Germany was a colony during the 1948 Olympics.

[Mike Daniels]

22. Yet, all the Eastern European countries were allowed in the Olympics during the Cold War era

If they weren't "colonies" at that time then neither is Iraq now.

[David__77]

23. And I do think Iraq should be allowed.

But I do not certainly think that they have a greater claim on attendance than does Zimbabwe, or, for that matter, Saudi Arabia, etc.

[thewiseguy]

16. Iran and Zimbawe have not disbanded their NOC

Dont mix politics with sports.

[thewiseguy]

17. Iraqis have their own government to blame for this

Why would their government disband the NOC?

I am surprised some DUers are mixing Zimbawe or Iran into this mix.

[The Croquist]

31. Please see post # 30

[Flagg]

25. That's one less propaganda stunt for Mc Bush

[ohio2007]

26. Boycott Beijing Olympics anyway nt

[ohio2007]

27. Iraq gets OK for Beijing Games ( China caves )

Olympic officials said Tuesday that Iraq will be allowed participate in the Beijing Games, reversing a previous ban on the country.

The International Olympic Committee said the decision comes as a result of an Iraqi pledge to ensure the independence of its national Olympic committee.


http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/07/29/iraq-ban.html

Was pressure applied ?

http://www.teachabroadchina.com/bush-2008-olympic-games-chin/

[ManiacJoe]

28. "China caves" ?

When did China get involved in any decision on this?

[ohio2007]

29. * nt