IOC Hands Iraq Olympic U-turn

The International Olympic Committee has struck a deal allowing 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 this week 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.
 
The government of Iraq disbanded the NOC in May because of a dispute over how it had been assembled.

The IOC gave Iraq a deadline to reinstate the committee but the government had refused to back down.