Baghdad - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has
confirmed the ban on Iraq sending a team to next month's Olympic
Games in Beijing, it emerged Thursday.
Seven athletes had hoped to compete in China but the IOC confirmed
the ban it imposed last month in a letter dated July 23 and addressed
to the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Jassim Mohammed Jaffer and
the acting secretary general of the Iraqi cabinet, Ali Mohsin Ismail.
The IOC took the measure as a result of what it described as 'the
Iraqi government's ongoing interference in the affairs of the
executive board of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee (NOC).'
Iraq disbanded its national Olympic committee in May and replaced
it with a new panel headed by Jaafar.
The letter was sent by the IOC relations director Pere Miro and
the general director of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
'As a result, and despite joint efforts between the IOC and OCA
over the past few months to find a positive solution with Iraqi
authorities, we would like to inform you that the IOC executive
board's decision, dated June 4, 2008 ordering the suspension of the
Iraqi NOC has been formally approved,' the letter 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.'
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