Ban Lifted – Iraq Can Go to Beijing Olympics

Although Iraqi athletes were banned recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reversed their decision and have ruled that Iraq can participate in the Beijing games.  Some last-minute talks between the nation’s official and the IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland are responsible for the change of events.

The original complaint surrounded the fact that Iraq’s National Olympic Committee was dissolved by the Baghdad government in May which led to the IOC’s decision to ban Iraq due to “political interference.”  A report says that “a compromise was worked out after mediators from Germany and China became involved in talks.”

Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing but I don’t think anything can be done for the five other hopefuls who lost their chance to compete when a deadline passed with no break in the stalemate.