Iraq rowers to compete in Beijing

In a press release issued late last night, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that, following an agreement reached with the Government of Iraq to establish an independent National Olympic Committee in Iraq, the ban on the participation of Iraqi athletes in the Beijing Games had been lifted.  When the ban on the Iraq delegation was announced, the IOC informed FISA that the Iraq rowers' invitation to participate in Beijing had been withdrawn.  At midday today, the IOC confirmed that the Iraq men's double would be reinstated and could compete in the Beijing Games.

The Iraq men's double obtained its qualification place by means of an IOC Tripartite Commission allocation. Reached in Baghdad today, Iraqi rower Haidar Nozad said, "We are very happy now to be able to go for Beijing". Nodar will line up with his rowing partner, Hamzah Hussein Jebur, against 14 other men's doubles for the first round of competition on Saturday 9th August.