Iraqi athletes and officials were jubilant Wednesday after the International Olympic Committee revoked a ban on their country’s participation in Olympics and allowed more athletes to compete in Beijing.The IOC decision to rescind its suspension of Iraq’s Olympic association came late Tuesday after last-minute talks during which an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its Olympic committee under international observation.The International Rowing Federation said Wednesday that the Iraq men’s rowing double will also be allowed to take part in the Beijing Olympics. IOC officials late Tuesday had said that Iraq would only be able to send two track and field athletes to the Games, as the deadline for their entry into competitions was Wednesday.“We called the IOC and asked if we could have the rowers back and the answer just came through. We’re very happy,” said Matt Smith, the rowing federation’s executive director.The International Olympic Committee readmitted Iraq to the Olympics on Tuesday, six days after the deadline to enter athletes for the judo, rowing, archery and weightlifting competitions had passed.“We were overwhelmed with pleasure over the news,” said Hamza Hussein Jebur, one of the two rowers who will compete at the games. Iraq has only one bronze medal since its first appearance at the summer Olympics in 1948. But in a country where violence has claimed the lives athletes, coaches and staff, the IOC’s rescinding of the ban amounted to an invaluable gift.The IOC suspended Iraq in May citing political interference in the country’s national Olympic committee, which the government had dissolved over allegations of corruption.
