IOC Lifts Olympic Ban on Iraq

The IOC has come to a compromise agreement with Iraq, and has lifted the ban on Iraq's athletes:

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — The ban on Iraq competing at the Beijing Olympics next month has been lifted, the International Olympic Committee announced here on Tuesday.

Iraq's compact Olympic contingent was cleared to take part in the 2008 Games after agreement was reached between the IOC and the Iraqi government at a crisis meeting at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne.

As the deadline for competitors at the Games for all events except athletics passed on July 23 the Iraqi contingent will now number only two athletes - Haidar Nasir in the discus and sprinter Danma Hussein.

The lifting of the ban came about after the Iraqi government agreed on a series of steps leading to a fully functioning independent National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Iraq.

IOC president Jacques Rogge hailed the eleventh hour deal, saying: "We look forward to seeing the Iraqi flag in Beijing."

The Olympic chief added: "I commend the government of Iraq for reaching an agreement that serves the long-term interest of Iraqi athletes.

"We have said all along that we want to see Iraqi athletes in Beijing."

I guess this is good news, although it sucks that this had to happen at all, as Iraq ought to have the right to deal with corruption in its own country, and now only two athletes can compete.

Iraq has accepted the terms, however, so I guess they're cool with it. I suppose we can call off the war now. :-)