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Iraq out of Beijing Games

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 11:55 AM EDT 24/07/08

International Olympic Committee blames interference by country's government in sport ...Read the full article

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  1. Tim Bryson from Claresholm, AB., Canada writes: Iraq at the olympics...who'd a thunk it?

    On a side note; I wonder where the archer honed his skills?
  2. Martha K. from Canada writes: those four athletes are not to blame. I don't understand how the IOC can hold them accountable for their government's actions. They should overlook this one, accept the 4 athletes this time and give the country a penalty of sorts for the next olympics. Something serious but not damaging to the athletes themselves.
  3. Dr. Winston O'Boogie from Waterloo, Canada writes: All part of GWB's $4 trillion master plan.
  4. Is there anybody out there? from Canray Islands, Canada writes: Iraq's government is the United States of America.
  5. Unknown User! from Canada writes: thats a shame. It really is. They should just let them play. Boost up some much needed nation patriotic Iraqi morale for God's sake. Sometimes i think im the world's smartest person reading the news and the decisions our leaders make.
  6. Marc C from Calgary, Canada writes: What a bunch of hypocrites the IOC are. Expel Iraq for political interference, but allow China to hold these Games despite its failure to live up to its promises of press freedom and improvement in human rights. The IOC has lost all credibility with me.
  7. smelter rat from Canada writes: Good for the IOC.
  8. Jim Stam from Mtl, Canada writes: The Iraqi soccer team that finished 4th in athens wasn't there this time either..
    man, there was propaganda/hype in us media last time around for that team.. almost matched marion jones atlanta hype.. come to think of it, she's in jail and osama is free,
    Cool i feel safer after trillions down the drain..I digress..
  9. Simon Hum from Canada writes: Well I think Iraq has much bigger concerns to worry about than the Olympics
  10. Neon Knight from Canada writes: The only ones who suffer from this are the athletes who won't be able to compete. That's a real shame.

    In other news, I'm over the whole bitterness about the Olympics being held in China. Going forward, I think the Olympics should be held in politically unstable and somewhat backward countries.
  11. P McLean from Canada writes: Marc C from Calgary, Canada writes The IOC has lost all credibility with me.

    the only amazing thing about that sentence is that they had any credibility with you to begin with.
  12. Chris Halford from Ottawa, Canada writes: This should be regarded as just as much a slap in the face to the Americans as to the Iraqi government. I wonder if there's an Afghan team?

    Regarding letting the athletes compete and look at sanctions for the next games: the athletes would be hurt then too.

    I have sympathy for the athletes but you can't have governments turfing the elected officials and putting their own people in. At least they haven't been killed like some of the other Iraqi sportsmen and sportswomen.

    Just shows what a mess the U.S government has made of Iraq.
  13. Frank Lee My Dears I Don't Give A Damn from Toronto, Canada writes:
    'solid evidence of blatant corruption, lack of legitimate transparent electoral processes and accountability, and absence of ratified legislation.' Sounds a lot like Chinese policy as well. IOC and UN are then same bunch of dumass (sic) idiots.
  14. Richard McAdam from Halifax, Canada writes: Chris, it's entirely unfair to lay the blame for this at the feet of the United States. Do you not remember what would happen to Olympic hopefuls in Iraq during the bad old days of Saddam's regime? Athletes would be tortured, abused, and humiliated for losing. Soccer players would have their feet whipped with thick cables, all on the order of the head of Iraq's Olympic Committee, Uday Hussein. Where was the IOC to stand up for Iraq's athletes then? Probably cowering somewhere behind the UN.
  15. Dr. Winston O'Boogie from Waterloo, Canada writes:
    Not being able to tell the difference between an anti-Bush remark and an anti-American remark puts the gentleman from Tennessee somewhere below the US’ 98th percentile :))
  16. Amdo Namma from Canada writes: Another stupid decision by the IOC and yet another good reason not to watch the Olympics.
  17. M. Mark from Victoria, Canada writes: I'm quite surprised the American government let this happen. It would be in their best interest to ensure Iraq is represented at such a high profile international event as the Olympics. They could easily have made the Iraqi government comply with the IOC regulations. Somebody in Washington 'dropped the ball' here. Too bad for the atheletes.
  18. Dick Garneau from Canada writes: The innocent athletes suffer for the arrogant leaders.
  19. B T from Toronto, Canada writes: The IOC Charter forbids political interference in the Olympic movement.

    _

    Really? So how did China with no room, no air quality controls, no human rights and no other means than money beat Toronto for the games? Well we can take solace in the fact that the IOC is now regarded with very little respect in the world as they are seen to be 'Politically Driven' and you can buy their votes....

    Can't wait until Vancouver. I won't be watching the Games this year, don't agree with the treatment of the Chinese people by their government to host the games.
  20. Simon O'Riordan from United Kingdom writes: Great. All we need now is for the IOC to kick China out for the same reason.
  21. B.C. Expat from Ottawa-Hull, NCR, Canada writes: I'm so confused as to what Globe and Mail cause is supposed to be making me go ballistic right now. U.S. in Iraq? U.S. or Canada in Beijing? Beijing in Tibet?

    IRAQI TROOPS OUT OF BEIJING NOW!!!
  22. T B from Canada writes: What makes you think the athletes are innocent? The corruption probably stems from the government picking people without having them qualify. Of course we don't know this because the article, doesn't explain why. I suspect the athletes were colluding with the government.

    Fair play in this region is not exactly a virtue.
  23. Joseph Whistle from Canada writes: I bet these athletes are embarrassingly crappy, and the Iraqis are just looking for a cheap way out. They now can be angry at the world.
  24. James MacDonald from Edmonton, Canada writes: Maybe they can compete under the Canadian flag.
  25. Sam Lui from Calgary, Canada writes: I thought the function (Olympic game) has no political background inference and strictly in sports. This game or I should say the organization of this game has totally changed the image, mission of it.
  26. P cheng from ottawa, Canada writes: Sam Lui from Calgary, Canada writes: I thought the function (Olympic game) has no political background inference and strictly in sports. This game or I should say the organization of this game has totally changed the image, mission of it.
    =============>
    From the article, it seems that it is no transparency on the slection process. It is not politic.
  27. John Fedup from Canada writes: Who cares?
  28. Likes Cleavage from Canada writes: Once again, no integrity or moral fibre. Beijing interferes in all aspects. It shows me that greed always wins out.
  29. Fair Justville from toronto, Canada writes: B T from Toronto, Canada, are you sure of what you just said? your ignorance of this world is well displayed. i don't want to blame you though the media really isolated you from the real world given you blieve we do have press freedom and our media are objective. sigh... it is all relative, but the relativity of correctness in our media sometimes nearer to the wrong.
  30. F H from Canada writes: 'The IOC Charter forbids political interference in the Olympic movement.'

    So I guess China won't be able to compete either, based on their massive political interference with what they're allowing athletes to say, wear, go ,etc., right?

    Or is the IOC picking and choosing, much as they did when turning a blind eye to China's broken promise to fix their human right abuses?
  31. Carl Men from Waterloo, Canada writes: '....their own government'

    HA
  32. Happy Ending from Toronto, Canada writes: To all the people accusing China to hold the Olympic on this forum, you guys are making no sense!!! While Canadian troops are in an another country to make sure that their people will listen to Canada's big brother U.S., what right do we have to accuse China? If you guys all want to close your eyes and be brain-washed without seeing all the improvements China made, go ahead and stay dumb!!!
  33. Bill Hopkins from London, Canada writes: The IOC Charter forbids political interference in the Olympic movement.

    That's a joke, right? I mean, what is more political than the Olympic organization? There's the figure skating judges, the site selection, etc., etc., etc. Come to think of it, the entire Olympic organization has become a joke (are they having ballroom dancing this year - to complement the beach volleyball?).
  34. Michael Soft from Apple, Canada writes: 'what is more political than the Olympic organization? There's the figure skating judges, the site selection, etc., etc., etc. Come to think of it, the entire Olympic organization has become a joke...'

    Sour grape. Yeah, it's a joke when it does not follow what you want.
  35. White Jade from Ireland writes: A Clive Hi Sin from Toronto, Canada writes: See for yourself...

    The immature racist Chain Veil Is has created yet another disguise...it has posted under the following monikers: As Inch Live I, Censorship Fodder, Civil Shine, StopChina, BoycottChina and the utterly disgusting racist 'YellowScourge'. It has used these forums to post its off-topic views as a cover for promoting hate against the Chinese people. What happened to the dog and cat show?

    It spends all day and night composing racist poems and anagrams as a way to assault the Chinese. Still no work, boy? Remember Section 319, Canada's Criminal Code.
  36. P cheng from ottawa, Canada writes: Fella Fellarini from Beijing, China writes: What an incredible hypocritical judgement on the part of the IOC! The Chinese government totally controls that countries Olympic movement. I should know, I have worked with them!!!
    ==============>
    I like your conspircy. How much US will play china for the gold, silver, bronze medal??
  37. Fella Fellarini from Beijing, China writes: Hey P Cheng, a fact is a fact! Even my Chinese colleagues in the Chinese Olympic Movement will admit to it (not publicly though)! It is however, what is on paper that is important! The Iraqi Gov. in June shot themselves in the foot by disbanding the Iraqi Olympic Committee! As far as paying for medals, I don't think that the U.S. are interested in winning badminton, or ping pong!
  38. Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes:

    The USA will win all the medals anyhow.
  39. Muk Kok from Canada writes: It is the decision of the IOC to ban Iraq from the Beijing Olympics.

    It has nothing to do with China, who is hosting the Olympic Games.

    Yet we have the same lineup of anti-China posters all croaking in chorus. Nothing more than ignorant gibberish if you ask me.
    You can embrace the five Iraqi athletes by "pressuring" the IOC to allow them to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada.
    Go on, show the IOC you are not a pack of tofu.
    Good luck.

    Just a reminder, Olympics Opening Ceremony is August 08, 2008.

  40. joseph Cheng from Toronto, Canada writes: For those paranoiacs who think China has a hand in everything:
    I suggest they check under their beds, their closets or whatever to make sure no Chinese is hiding somewhere to do them harm while they are sleeping!
    Another reminder: Olympics Opening Ceremony is August 8. Be sure to check your local time for TV coverage !!
  41. Frank Lee My Dears I Don't Give A Damn from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Political? The Chinese communist party controls the life of every Chinese citizen. And that's not political? Holy Mao Tze Dung! And I do mean dung.

    PS This missive has really been written by Hoo Flung Poo. ; }o
  42. P cheng from ottawa, Canada writes: Frank Lee My Dears I Don't Give A Damn from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Political? The Chinese communist party controls the life of every Chinese citizen. And that's not political? Holy Mao Tze Dung! And I do mean dung.

    ============>
    This articles talked about Iraq. You mean that CCP control the Iraq too? LOL
  43. Fella Fellarini from Beijing, China writes: Poor China, it's been a year of disasters - train accidents, mining accidents, floods, a freezing shutdown, bad food exports, lead paint in toy exports, the Szechuan earthquake, the Tibetan awakening, terrorist bombings in Kunming, Xinjiang uprisings, human rights, the Sudan connection, the Torch Relay, air pollution during the Olympics, visa problems, rascist concerns, etc. etc. The Chinese bloggers are talking about the unluckiness of the Olympic mascots. Some are saying, it is Feng Shui! I guess that old adage still rings true, what goes around comes around!
  44. John Bladen from Ed - Land, Canada writes: So, the IOC charter "forbids political interference in the Olympic movement".

    Just let that sink in for a minute.... I guess they must have drafted this charter right after awarding the 2008 games to Beijing? I don't recall the US being banned after the Moscow boycott, nor the Soviet bloc countries after Los Angeles. Is there anything more political than a boycott? Well, it's certainly nice to know there will be absolutely no political interference in any future games... and by extension, no taxpayer dollars either.

    I'm not sure what is the bigger scandal: That the IOC keeps draining the public coffers of nations or that the pathetic governments keep feeding this monster. Stop giving tax dollars to the carpetbaggers at the IOC and support amateur athletics directly...

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