Iraq delegation heading to meet with IOC

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An Iraqi delegation was heading to Switzerland earlier today to try and lift an International Olympic Committees ban on Iraq competing in the Beijing Games.

The Iraqi delegation hopes to meet with IOC representatives as early as Monday, according to Associated Press, which based its report on conversations with two Iraqi sports officials.

Earlier this week, the IOC instituted a permanent ban on Iraq participating in the Beijing Games. The action followed an interim ban announced after the IOC charged the Iraqi government with interfering in the country’s Olympic affairs.

Iraq has appointed its own representatives to Iraq’s National Olympic Committee, and the IOC wants the previous committee members reinstated. But four of the members, including the committee chief, were kidnapped two years ago and remain missing.

It’s too late for some of Iraq’s seven-member Olympics team to compete because the IOC already has selected the weight-lifting, judo, archery and rowing competitors. Track and field competitors are due to be determined on Wednesday. Iraqi still hopes to send a discus thrower and a sprinter to Beijing.

-- Greg Johnson