Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

Anyone know why?

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

no idea why.

the more i hear about the olympics in china the more i wish the US would boycott it this year.

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

From CNN:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from competing in the upcoming Summer Olympics games because of what it says is political interference by the government in sports.

An Iraqi Olympic Committee official said the IOC sent letters in Arabic and English confirming the ban.

The official said the seven Iraqi athletes who were to travel to China for the games in August are disappointed by the decision.

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

wow, cant believe that!!

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

they have been talking about this for some time.

it's a shame but they IOC gave the iraqi govt a chance to change and they didn't.

I feel terribly for the athletes. In the end, I thought for their benefit the IOC would cave and let them compete.

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

Here is what it says on CNN:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from competing in the upcoming Summer Olympics games because of what it says is political interference by the government in sports.

An Iraqi Olympic Committee official said the IOC sent letters in Arabic and English confirming the ban.

The official said the seven Iraqi athletes who were to travel to China for the games in August are disappointed by the decision.

The move stems from an Iraqi government decision in May to suspend Iraq's Olympic Committee and form a temporary committee to handle its duties.

The Iraqi government thought the committee had not been operating properly and as a result undermined the sporting movement in Iraq.

The government said the original committee held meetings without quorums and had officials serving in one-year posts for more than five years. Many of the officials also lived outside of Iraq, the government said.

CNN could not immediately reach the International Olympic Committee press office in Geneva for comment.


linky

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.

I feel bad for the athletes. They work and train so hard for that chance to be in the Olympics.

Re: Breaking NewsThe International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from next month's Olympics in Beijing.