Olympics: Screw You, War-Torn Nation

                   
laist.com: The Olympic door is shutting on Iraq. laist.com
laist.com     26-Jul-2008            

Since the time of ancient Greece, the Olympics were designed to allow athletes to compete and travel in peace -- even if they hailed from war-torn regions. But this week, the International Olympic Committee said that Iraq is expected to sit out the 2008 games in Beijing. It's not that Iraqi athletes aren't good enough. In fact, seven athletes have qualified (many more for the Paralympics) and the IOC admits that they will "reallocate a number of Iraq’s qualified or invited quota places." The problem, according to the IOC, is that the Iraqi government has allowed politics to interfere with their national Olympic Committee. To make matters worse, Iraqi officials didn't come to the IOC to discuss the matter. Apparently the IOC thinks that Iraq has a surplus of talented diplomats able to spend a weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland... [read full story]                    

Full Coverage

Beijing organisers sympathise with Iraqi athletes

tiscali.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing organisers expressed sympathy for Iraqi athletes on Friday after the suspension of the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) ruled them out of next month’s Olympics. The Iraqi government...                    

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Beijing organisers sympathise with Iraqi athletes

reuters.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing organisers expressed sympathy for Iraqi athletes on Friday after the suspension of the country's National Olympic Committee (NOC) ruled them out of next month's Olympics. The Iraqi government...                    

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'Black day' says Iraq Olympic Committee

jpress.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

The Iraq Olympic Committee has described the decision by the International Olympic Committee to suspend the participation of their athletes in the Beijing Games as a "black day in the history of sports in Iraq". (25/07/2008...                    

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'Black day' says Iraq Olympic Committee

gazettelive.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

The Iraq Olympic Committee has described the decision by the International Olympic Committee to suspend the participation of their athletes in the Beijing Games as a "black day in the history of sports in Iraq". The IOC...                    

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'Black day' says Iraq Olympic Committee

metro.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

The Iraq Olympic Committee has described the decision by the International Olympic Committee to suspend the participation of their athletes in the Beijing Games as a "black day in the history of sports in Iraq". The IOC...                    

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Beijing organisers sympathise with Iraqi athletes

mirror.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

Beijing organisers expressed sympathy for Iraqi athletes on Friday after the suspension of the country's National Olympic Committee (NOC) ruled them out of next month's Olympics. The Iraqi government disbanded the NOC in May...                    

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IOC uphold Iraq decision

sportbusiness.com     25-Jul-2008          

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has upheld a ban on Iraqi teams at the 2008 Olympic Games after the government missed the deadline to address accusations of political interference. The decision is the result of a...                    

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Next stop Beijing

bbc.co.uk     25-Jul-2008          

From next week my blog will be coming from Beijing. Although the Olympics do not begin until August 8 - the Chinese consider 8 so lucky that they planned the opening ceremony for 8pm on 08/08/08 - the week before the Games...                    

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Olympic business: A word from the sponsors

guardian.co.uk     27-Jul-2008          

It's one of the biggest deals in adland - the five little rings that mean you can call yourself an official Olympic 'partner'. It costs millions to win the right to that 'Beijing 2008' symbol, which you can currently find...                    

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IOC offers last chance for Iraq

bbc.co.uk     26-Jul-2008          

Iraq had hoped to take part in five different sports There is a slim chance that Iraqi athletes could take part in the Beijing games, the International Olympic Committee has said. The IOC has banned Iraq from taking part...                    

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