Reading about the plight of these athletes, two things occur to me: first, that "freedom" means living under a government that supports individual achievements in sports and other venues (in contrast, Iraq offers no societal/financial backing to athletes and tortures them); secondly, that another example of the incompetence of the Middle East in running a government - this primitive hard-wired territorialism is so incredibly self-defeating! Value judgment? - well, shooting yourself in the foot does in fact keep you from moving forward. Just a fact... - Mac

(Reuters, AFP, AP)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,390075,00.html

The International Olympic Committee confirmed its decision to ban Iraq from taking part in the Beijing Olympics because of the government’s interference with sports by disbanding the country's National Olympic Committee, Reuters reported.

"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.

The decision is a major blow to seven Iraqi athletes who hoped to travel to Beijing this summer, AFP reported.

The IOC had warned of sanctions against Iraq after the country disbanded its Olympic committee and other sports in May.

"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," AFP reported the IOC letter to Iraq said.

"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," the letter said.

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