<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BBC)</div><div class='quotemain'>The International Olympic Committee has cleared the way for Iraq to compete in the Beijing Olympics after lifting its previous ban. Iraq were banned last week following their government's decision to disband its National Olympic Committee, a move that angered the IOC. But that decision was reversed on Tuesday when the government pledged to ensure the NOC's independence. Iraq are to send two athletes, a discus thrower and a sprinter, to the Games. Five other athletes lost their chance to go when the final date to select competitors for archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting passed last week. The decision to lift their ban follows last-minute talks between Iraqi officials and the IOC in Lausanne.</div> Source Must suck to be one of the 5 who can't compete as they missed the deadline due to thinking they could not compete. Good luck to the discus thrower and the sprinter, though I doubt they'll actually get anywhere.
