Feb 27, 3:10 PM EST
IOC Clears Iraqi Flag for Athens Olympics
By LISA ORKIN
Associated Press Writer
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Iraqi athletes will march under their national flag at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics.
After being suspended 10 months ago, Iraq's national Olympic committee was reinstated Friday by the International Olympic Committee.
"It's a great moment for the Iraqi athletes and Iraqi people," said Ahmed al-Sammarai, the Iraqi committee's chief. "This helps to prove the Iraqis can rule themselves. Just give them the chance."
"We are starting from zero," he said. "This is the first step. It's a hard job but we will do our best to prepare in the short period before the games."
Al-Sammarai, elected on Jan. 29, is a former general and athlete who returned to Iraq last year after 20 years in exile.
The IOC executive board lifted the suspension of Iraq's national Olympic committee, which was dismantled after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
But even if the new committee had not been recognized by the IOC, Iraqi athletes would have been free to compete in Athens under the Olympic flag.
As many as two dozen Iraqi athletes are expected to compete at the Athens Games in wrestling, track and field, swimming, boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo. The Iraqi soccer team is also attempting to qualify.
The reinstatement of Iraq brings the number of national Olympic committees recognized by the IOC to a record 202.
The IOC and a number of countries are helping to fund, train and outfit the Iraqis. Four Iraqi wrestlers have been invited to train at a U.S. Olympic Committee facility in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"Most of our athletes that have a chance to be in Athens will train outside," said Tiras Odisho, the committee's director general.
The former Iraqi committee had been headed by Saddam's son Odai, who reportedly jailed and tortured athletes who fell out of his favor. Odai was killed in a shootout with U.S. troops in July.
Al-Sammarai said women feared abuse from Odai and did not compete in sports.
"Now we encourage the families and we are starting organizing women's sports through the federations," al-Sammarai said.
Female coaches will be trained in hopes of gathering more women athletes. In Athens at least one woman will participate in track and field.
The minimum budget presented to the Coalition Provisional Authority was $25 million, but "money in cash is not important. What is important is for our friends to sit down and help us," Odisho said.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
