IOC lifts Iraq’s Olympic suspension

A compromise was worked out after mediators from Germany and China became involved in talks, and Iraq pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.

Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing to compete in track and field events. The decision came too late for five other hopefuls in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. The deadline to submit names for those sports expired last week.

How disheartening is this? A resolution is reached, but too late for the majority of the athletes. The archer may fare better than the other olympic hopefuls as the skill of an archer is not so tied to age as it is for judo, rowing and weightlifting. Sad all around.

I still don’t understand the nature of the ban. I’m not sure I can identify who the players are, who the good guys and who the bad guys are. Perhaps they’re all bad. Take a look at this sentence however:

The IOC had insisted the old committee be reinstated even though four members were kidnapped two years ago. Their fates remain unknown.

“Their fates remain unknown.” ?!?!?!?! This makes the IOC look like inconsiderate, bumbling jerks!

Who knows. I need someone to explain this whole thing to me.