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IOC suspends Iraq team for political interference

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally suspended Iraq’s national Olympic committee on Wednesday for “political interference,” a decision that leaves Iraqi athletes in danger of missing the Beijing Games.

The IOC executive board took the action following the Iraqi government’s recent dissolution of the national Olympic body and appointment of an interim group chaired by the minister of sport.

“The Iraqi national Olympic committee is suspended on a provisional basis ... as a protective measure due to the interferences from the Iraqi government authorities,” the IOC said in a statement.

The IOC said it does not recognize any interim committee and supports only the “legitimately elected” body. It called on the Iraqi government to “analyze the situation and find appropriate solutions” in line with the rules of the Olympic Charter.

“The IOC will continue to look for ways to help Iraqi athletes, although the situation created by the Iraqi government authorities makes the task very difficult,” it said.

The IOC did not say whether it would consider allowing any Iraqi athletes who qualify for Beijing to compete in the Aug. 8 to Aug. 24 Games under the Olympic flag.

“Today it is not clear,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said.

“Ultimately we hope to find solutions and now we will invite the Iraqi government representatives, along with the Olympic council of Asia and those involved, to sit and discuss,” she said.

More than a dozen Iraqi athletes have either qualified for Beijing or been invited.

In Baghdad, the government expressed regret at the IOC’s decision, but said it was “greatly encouraged” by the invitation.

“Iraq has accepted the IOC’s invitation and a high level delegation will attend the meeting to represent the Iraqi government,” the statement said.
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