IRAQ'S Olympic team have expressed their delight at the news that the International Olympic Committee revoked a ban on the country participating at the Games, even though three of the original seven athletes for Beijing remain shut out.
The IOC decision came late on Tuesday after last-minute talks during which an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.
IOC officials said Iraq – which has on
ly ever won one Olympic bronze medal – would be able to send two track-and-field athletes, as the deadline for their entry had not yet passed.
But the International Rowing Federation has announced that the Iraq men's rowing double will also be allowed to participate in Beijing after all.
"We called the IOC and asked if we could have the rowers back and the answer just came through. We're very happy," said Matt Smith, the rowing federation's executive director.
The rowers, Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur, were allowed back in the men's double sculls because their places had not been given to competitors from other countries, Smith said.
"We were overwhelmed with pleasure over the news," said Jebur.
"The decision brought Iraq back to the international sports gathering," added Dr Talib Faisal, head of the Iraqi Track and Field Association.
The full article contains 224 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
