ATHENS, 28 February 2004 — Iraq rejoined the Olympic family on Friday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally lifted a nine-month suspension. “The executive board of the IOC today lifted the suspension that was put in place on May 1,” IOC communications director Giselle Davis told a news conference in Athens.
“This means that Iraqi athletes will enter the stadium on Aug. 13 under their national flag,” she added. Iraqi National Olympic Committee (NOC) president Ahmed Al-Samarrai described it as “a great moment for Iraqi athletes” ahead of the Aug. 13-29 Athens Games. “This proves that Iraqis can rule themselves, just give them a chance,” said Samarrai. The end of Iraq’s suspension brings the total number of NOCs to a record 202.
Davis said work was already underway to ensure that Iraq has a team to compete in Athens. “We are working to enable (Iraqi) athletes to come to the Games in Athens and a number of athletes most likely to qualify have been identified already,” she said.
Meanwhile, IOC President Jacques Rogge yesterday voiced uncertainty about the success of the Athens Olympics during a joint meeting of the IOC executive board and the association of National Olympic Committees.
“If Athens runs smoothly, and I say if the games run smoothly in Athens, then we will see the Olympic solidarity budget rise,” he said. Rogge said that if the Athens Olympics are a success, the Olympic solidarity budget will increase from $210 million to $240 million from 2004 to 2008.
Romanian Star Szabo Rules Out Competing at Athens
Olympic 5,000m champion Gabriela Szabo won’t race again this year due to exhaustion and, as a result, will not compete at the Athens Olympics, the athletics ruling body IAAF announced yesterday. “I feel burned out and over trained,” said the 28-year-old Romanian.
