Spring Break
Iraq banned from Beijing Olympics amid feud
BRIAN MURPHY Associated Press Writer
Issue date: 7/25/08 Section: SPORTS
This year, at least seven Iraqi athletes were expected to compete in Beijing in sports including weightlifting, rowing and archery. Their spots were given to other nations by the IOC.
Iraqi sports officials reacted with disbelief and outrage as they watched the efforts for Beijing vanish. Iraq has only one medal - a bronze in weightlifting in 1960 - since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948.
"Unjust," said Fawzi Akram, a member of the sports committee in parliament. "Iraq is passing through an exception period and should be given special consideration."
The official who received the IOC's letter - Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, the minister of sport and youth - grumbled: "We reject this unfair decision."
But it's been coming to a head for months.
In May, Iraq's government dissolved the 11-member National Olympic Committee. Among the claims was that it was illegitimate because it lacked enough members for a legal quorum - even though four members of the committee, including its chief, were kidnapped two years ago and their fates remain unknown.
There's also possible echoes of Iraq's sectarian rifts. The Youth and Sports Ministry is dominated by Shiites who also control the government. Iraq's Olympic Committee had included several holdovers from the Saddam era.
The IOC banned Iraq in June, but said it was open for talks. Iraq, too, promised to meet the IOC and present "solid evidence" of corruption, unfair elections and other alleged failings by the committee.
But on Thursday, the IOC said the deadline to open negotiations had run out - just as athletes begin their final preparations for Beijing.
"We are deeply sorry for this result," said the IOC letter.
Iraq is not the first country to miss an Olympics because of government interference.
In the most recent case, Afghanistan was prevented from sending a team to the Sydney Games in 2000 when the Taliban regime's heavy hand extended to sports.
Iraqi sports officials reacted with disbelief and outrage as they watched the efforts for Beijing vanish. Iraq has only one medal - a bronze in weightlifting in 1960 - since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948.
"Unjust," said Fawzi Akram, a member of the sports committee in parliament. "Iraq is passing through an exception period and should be given special consideration."
The official who received the IOC's letter - Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, the minister of sport and youth - grumbled: "We reject this unfair decision."
But it's been coming to a head for months.
In May, Iraq's government dissolved the 11-member National Olympic Committee. Among the claims was that it was illegitimate because it lacked enough members for a legal quorum - even though four members of the committee, including its chief, were kidnapped two years ago and their fates remain unknown.
There's also possible echoes of Iraq's sectarian rifts. The Youth and Sports Ministry is dominated by Shiites who also control the government. Iraq's Olympic Committee had included several holdovers from the Saddam era.
The IOC banned Iraq in June, but said it was open for talks. Iraq, too, promised to meet the IOC and present "solid evidence" of corruption, unfair elections and other alleged failings by the committee.
But on Thursday, the IOC said the deadline to open negotiations had run out - just as athletes begin their final preparations for Beijing.
"We are deeply sorry for this result," said the IOC letter.
Iraq is not the first country to miss an Olympics because of government interference.
In the most recent case, Afghanistan was prevented from sending a team to the Sydney Games in 2000 when the Taliban regime's heavy hand extended to sports.
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