<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced. The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence. Iraq had been planning to send a team of at least seven athletes to the Olympics which start on 8 August. Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing. "The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed," said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies. "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." She added: "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 four Iraqi athletes that qualified could have competed under the Olympic flag</div> Full Story
There is nothing really to say to be honest. Their team was closely monitored by their government and the rules strictly state that sport and polictics must be seperate. I feel sorry for the 7 atheletes though.
Bad ruling IMO, Iraq should be represented by a team at the Olympics, especially after everything they've gone through from the war.
I don't think its possible to get an explanation on this issue from any side that isn't ridiculously slanted. It's a shame that amateur athletes continue to pay the repurcussion for stupid political nonsense.
