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Insurgents attacked his family's compound and killed everyone there. Athletes often are targeted because they are considered un-Islamic or supportive of the U.S.-backed government. BAGHDAD -- As athletes in Beijing vie for medals, fame and fortune, Iraqi distance runner Mahmoud Kamil Ahmed competes thousands of miles away for a different reason: to forget. A year ago, while Ahmed trained in Cairo, Sunni Muslim insurgents surrounded his family's homestead in Diyala province, machine guns and rockets blazing. All 27 of his relatives inside were killed, including his mother, father and two brothers. Now, the 27-year-old lives in a Baghdad University dorm,...

BAGHDAD, July 29 -- Two Iraqi athletes will be allowed to participate in the Beijing Olympics after a last-minute pledge by the Iraqi government Tuesday not to interfere politically in the country's Olympic movement. The agreement reversed a decision last week by the International Olympic Committee to ban Iraq from competing because of allegations that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had compromised the independence of the national Olympic committee. The government dissolved the panel in May and replaced it with a new group headed by a cabinet minister. But after negotiations between Iraqi officials and the international committee at its headquarters...

ATHLETES from Iraq have been banned from taking part in this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced. The team was already the subject of an interim ban after the Iraqi Government replaced the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees. Under the IOC charter, all committees must be free of political influence. As a result, the team of two rowers, two sprinters, one archer, one weightlifter and one judo competitor cannot attend the Games. "We sent a letter to the Iraqi Government today saying that as the situation stands, today it is unlikely to have Iraqi...

Iraq banned from Beijing Olympics Seven Iraqi athletes from five different sports qualified for the Olympics Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at this summer's Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee has announced...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The International Olympic Committee has banned Iraq from competing in the upcoming Summer Olympics games because of what it says is political interference by the government in sports. An Iraqi Olympic Committee official said the IOC sent letters in Arabic and English confirming the ban. The official said the seven Iraqi athletes who were to travel to China for the games in August are disappointed by the decision

Iraqi sprinter Dana Abdul-Razzaq has dodged bullets to pursue her love of running, her determination to succeed pushing her to become Iraq's only female athlete at the Beijing Olympics. Few athletes will have faced the obstacles 21-year-old Abdul-Razzaq has overcome to reach Beijing, from a sniper's bullets to a paucity of adequate training facilities and religious and cultural opposition to female athletes. "I love running, I have the persistence to keep practising and I have ambition despite all the problems that I face," she told Reuters at Baghdad's crumbling Shaab stadium.

As president of Iraq's Olympic committee, the president's son was the country's sports czar. According to several accounts from players, he turned his sadistic obsessions on the national soccer team. -Snip- But those were the lesser miseries. Some players endured long periods in a military prison, beaten on their backs with electric cables until blood flowed. Other punishments included "matches" kicking concrete balls around the prison yard in 130-degree heat, and 12-hour sessions of push-ups, sprints and other fitness drills, wearing heavy military fatigues and boots.

AKARTA (Reuters) - Iraq defied seemingly impossible odds to beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Asian Cup final on Sunday, providing a fairytale ending to the tournament and a rare moment of celebration in their war-torn homeland. Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud scored the winner in the 71st minute when he climbed above the defence at the far post and headed a perfectly-weighted corner from Hawar Mulla Mohammed into the net. Saudi Arabia had been bidding to become the first country to win the Asian Cup four times but were outplayed by an Iraqi team riding high on a wave of...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A popular Iraqi soccer player who was a member of the country's Olympic team has been kidnapped in Baghdad, police said. Ghanim Ghudayer, 22, considered one of the best players in Baghdad's Air Force Club, was kidnapped on Sunday evening by unknown assailants in the al-Amil neighborhood where he lives in the western part of the capital, police 1st Lt. Mutaz Salahiddin said. Some of the kidnappers were dressed in military uniform, Salahiddin said. Samir Kadhim, head of the Air Force Club, said Ghudayer had been preparing to go to a training session when he was intercepted...

Excerpt - BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen kidnapped the head of Iraq's Olympic committee and more than a dozen employees Saturday after storming a sports conference in Baghdad, police said. The kidnappers wore camouflage Iraqi police uniforms and security guards outside the meeting said they did not interfere because they thought the gunmen were legitimate law enforcement, police said. Ahmed al-Hijiya, president of the committee, was taken in the assault, which came a day after the coach of Iraq's national wrestling team was killed by kidnappers, said police Lt. Thaer Mahmoud. Others taken Saturday included the deputy head of the Olympic...

Tuesday, August 31, 2004 Those Iraqi soccer ingrates Posted: August 31, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern By Dennis Prager © 2004 Creators Syndicate Of all the ugly human traits, ingratitude – the refusal to acknowledge the good that has been done for us – is probably the ugliest. Yet its awfulness is only exceeded by its ubiquity. In fact, it is ingratitude that characterizes much of the world's – including many Americans' – attitude toward the United States. Think about it. Without America: The world would collapse into economic and moral chaos. Cruelty and economic depression would dominate the planet. Vast unemployment and social...

The Iraqi soccer team's improbable run at an Olympic gold medal ended Tuesday night with a 3-1 semifinal loss to Paraguay. The Iraqis still have a chance for a bronze, which would be their war-weary nation's first medal in 44 years. Paraguay made history of its own, getting two goals from Jose Cardozo and one from Fredy Bareiro to advance to Saturday's gold-medal game against Argentina, a 3-0 winner over Italy. Gold or silver, it will be the first Olympic medal of any sort for Paraguay.

I would bet they are glad UDAY and Saddam are gone now huh?!?

Oh how quickly we forget,huh? I am just absolutely disgusted that we have come to the defense of the "Iraqi" people as of today. For the longest time I have been a supporter of this war and still do support it in principle as part of the war on terror. Saddam needed to go. However, all I read,hear,and watch on TV is ungrateful cocky Iraqi's with short term memory problems. Have they forgotten what it was like to be tortured by Saddam's son's Uday and Qusay,if they slipped up on the field of play? Or even worse..killed? Have they forgotten...

I just saw a segment before the Iraq soccer match which was a hit piece on Bush. NBC criticized Bush for making an ad that includes Iraq and Afghanistan. By the way, the ad doesn't even mention soccer. The NBC hit piece had on some comments from the Iraq soccer team. That caused me to write a nasty email to NBC Sports: Sports@MSNBC.com

Members of the Iraqi Olympic soccer team branded US President George Bush a “criminal” and called for American troops to pull out of the war-torn country. Speaking after winning their group stage at the Games in Greece, one player said he would take up arms against US troops in his country. And the team attacked Mr Bush for running re-election campaign adverts featuring the Iraqi team. “Iraq as a team does not want Mr Bush to use us for the presidential campaign,” said midfielder Salih Sadir. “He can find another way to advertise himself.” Sadir was angered at Mr Bush’s...

Saturday 21 August 2004, 11:54 Makka Time, 8:54 GMT Iraqi football players, who have performed exceptionally well at the Olympics, are cautioning President George Bush not to use their success in his re-election campaign, according to the US monthly Sports Illustrated. US media has touted the success of Iraq's under-23 team as it beat Portugal 4-2 and Costa Rica 2-0 and sailed through to the quarterfinals. However, the sudden interest in the team - particularly from the US Republican re-election campaign platform - has irked some of its members. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use...

She doesn't want to be a symbol, either, nor the poster girl for President Bush getting four more years.

IRAQ THE MODEL Saturday, August 21, 2004 Hurray! Iraqi football team won against Australia 1-0 to reach the semifinal for the first time in Iraq's history. Now we are going to play for a medal! Iraq has one medal only in her Olypic record; a bronze one that we won in weight-lifting back in 1960. This is the *BEST* acheivment Iraq has ever acheived in soccer. Strange isn't it!? Not to me! I really expected that despite the difficult life in Iraq that our athletes were going to perform better than ever, and I believe it's the effect of freedom....

Soccer players say president shouldn't exploit their success Updated: 10:15 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2004ATHENS, Greece - Iraqi soccer players reacted angrily Friday after being told that their nation's Olympic participation was mentioned in TV commercial by the re-election campaign for President Bush. The players called on Bush to stop using them to win votes in the United States. “Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign,” midfielder Salih Sadir was quoted as saying. “He can find another way to advertise himself.” However, the Iraqi Olympic delegation accused journalists of deliberately provoking...

Unbelievable by Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports August 21, 2004 HERAKLIO, Greece – Back to the net and surrounded by five Australians, Emad Mohammed watched the pass of his dreams float his way. Mohammed bicycle kicked the ball into Australia's goal, winning the game and perpetuating the dreams of a nation in need of them. The Iraqi team, which made the entire world happy just by being here, will play for an Olympic medal in men's soccer. Their 1-0 victory over Australia Saturday here on the island of Crete propels the team into the semifinals and keeps alive one the most...

PRESIDENT BUSH PLANS TRIP TO OLYMPICS, SOURCES TELL DRUDGE. MAY ATTEND IRAQI SOCCER GAME. 'TRIP BEING PLANNED IN SECRET'... SECURITY CONCERNS AND 'DISRUPTION' OF GAMES AT ISSUE... MORE...

Even Howard Dean's heart had to skip a beat when the Iraqi athletes walked in to Santiago Calatrava's magnificent stadium at the Olympics opening ceremony. Boy, did they look happy. Genuinely happy. Compare their elation--reaching toward he crowd, tapping their hearts--with the athletes from Iran or Saudi Arabia, who had that smile-or-disappear look Olympic athletes forlornly wore when they represented the Soviet Union or the "Eastern bloc" nations. In a word, the Iraqis looked free. These Olympians have one thing in common: They come from the nations the U.S. has liberated since the end of World War II. Across the...

IRAKLION, Greece - Emad Mohammed's 12-yard bicycle kick in the 64th minute gave Iraq a 1-0 victory over Australia in the quarterfinals Saturday, putting the invaded, war-torn country in position to compete for only its second Olympic medal in the nation's history. Iraq will play either Paraguay or South Korea in the semifinals in Thessaloniki on Tuesday. Even a loss in the semis would put the Iraqis in the bronze medal game, where they could become the first athletes from their country to win a medal since Abdul Wahid Aziz's weightlifting bronze in Rome in 1960. Two more victories would...

Well, the ungrateful Iraqi soccer team won again, 1-0 against Australia in the Olympic quarterfinals. They will now play in the semis. Hopefully, the anti-US comments among the players are limited to the two or so Fallujah residents. There must be some pro-US players on the team and maybe they will eventually speak.

ANGRY at being used by US President George W. Bush in a political broadcast, Iraq Olympic officials today said their athletes had been set up. Footballers from the war-torn nation reacted furiously when told their country was being used in a campaign ad, calling on Bush to stop using them to win votes. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," midfielder Salih Sadir told Sports Illustrated magazine. "He can find another way to advertise himself." However, the Iraq delegation accused journalists of deliberately provoking an angry response from their players. "Our...

Iraqi footballers' fury at Bush Sadir said he wanted the US to withdraw its troops from Iraq Iraq's successful Olympic football team has launched an outspoken attack on US President George W Bush. Midfielder Salih Sadir said the team - which won its group stage in Greece - was angry it had been used in Mr Bush's re-election campaign ads. One accused the US leader of committing "many crimes", and another said he would be fighting US troops if not for Athens. Their comments were made in a US Sports Illustrated magazine interview. Salih Sadir said he was angry at...

this truly makes me want to puke.... "My problems are not with the American people. They are with what America has done in Iraq: destroy everything...The American army has killed so many people in Iraq. What is freedom when I go to the (national) stadium and there are shootings on the road?" -- Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad told SI.com.

Iraqi soccer players said they are angered that President Bush has referred to their Olympic delegation in a campaign ad and called on him to stop, Sports Illustrated reported Thursday on its Web site. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir told SI.com through a translator. "He can find another way to advertise himself." The Bush campaign is running an ad in which the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan appear. A narrator says, "At this Olympics there will be two more free nations - and two fewer...

When their beloved soccer team scored the game's first goal, the patrons in the packed café here whooped and pumped their fists and jumped up on chairs. One waved a red, green, black and white flag. Iraq 1, Morocco 0. Alan Younis, standing outside and peering through a window at the 25-inch color television inside, yelled along with his fellow Iraqis. "The players make us smile," the 27-year-old construction worker said. "We did not for a long time." Mr. Younis is one of hundreds of Iraqi immigrants who have frequented this squat, cramped bar this week to root for their...

PATRAS, Greece -- Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir scored a goal here on Wednesday night, setting off a rousing celebration among the 1,500 Iraqi soccer supporters at Pampeloponnisiako Stadium. Though Iraq -- the surprise team of the Olympics -- would lose to Morocco 2-1, it hardly mattered as the Iraqis won Group D with a 2-1 record and now face Australia in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Afterward, Sadir had a message for U.S. president George W. Bush, who is using the Iraqi Olympic team in his latest re-election campaign advertisements. In those spots, the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan appear as...

PATRAS, Greece -- Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir scored a goal here on Wednesday night, setting off a rousing celebration among the 1,500 Iraqi soccer supporters at Pampeloponnisiako Stadium. Though Iraq -- the surprise team of the Olympics -- would lose to Morocco 2-1, it hardly mattered as the Iraqis won Group D with a 2-1 record and now face Australia in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Afterward, Sadir had a message for U.S. president George W. Bush, who is using the Iraqi Olympic team in his latest re-election campaign advertisements. In those spots, the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan appear as...

Najah Ali: Iraq's little boxing surprise Ten months ago, light flyweight Najah Ali wasn't on the Iraqi boxing team, because there was no such thing. On Aug. 18, the 4'11" 106-pounder in convincing style, 21-7, over a heavily favored opponent, North Korea's Kwak Hyok Ju, who is 5'4". In his first major international fight -- he only has about 35 bouts to his name total -- Ali controlled matters from the outset, leading 9-3 after one round. The shortest man in the Olympic boxing tournament danced around the ring agilely and snuck inside his taller opponent's reach to land...

Patras, Greece (Sports Network) - Iraq now has a blemish on its record after they dropped a 2-1 decision to Morocco at Pampeloponnisiako Stadium in men's soccer action at the Olympic Games on Wednesday night. The Iraqis still managed to exceed all expectations by finishing atop Group D. Thanks to a loss by Portugal in Heraklio (4-2 to Costa Rica) that surprisingly eliminated them from the competition, Iraq avoided the powerful Argentineans in the quarterfinals. Instead, they will match up with a depleted Australian side that has three players suspended for Saturday's encounter. Portugal, meanwhile, which was expected to challenge...

0-0 early going.

With a maximum six points from two games, Iraq is in the last eight of the Olympic Soccer tournament.With Argentina expected to top its own group, the Iraqis must avoid defeat Wednesday against Morocco in Patras Stadium.Second place Portugal, with three points to make up, doesn't want to face Argentina either.It will be out to score a big victory over Costa Rica in Crete and hope the Iraqis lose by two or more goals to the Moroccans.If Argentina were to lose to Australia in Athens on Tuesday then they would drop to second place.On current form the matchups look like...

Iraq's fairytale Olympic run continued on Sunday when they beat Costa Rica 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Athens Games.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/soccer/5039280/detail.html

Iraq, Afghan Olympians Send Messages of "Freedom and Hope" Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USAAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2004 -- President Bush asked Americans watching this year's Olympic Games at home to "think about the many Americans deployed overseas to defend our nation." "In Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond, our men and women in uniform are serving with great skill and compassion," he said during his weekly radio address today. "They are making America more secure, and America is grateful to all of them, and to their families," he said. Bush told listeners that by coming together...

Anyone catch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics tonight? Allah missed it but reader Daniel W. was watching when the Saudi Arabian team was introduced. Here's his transcript of the exchange between brain-dead telepromptress Katie Couric and Bob Costas,whose tolerance for egregious hypocrisy about "celebrating humanity" isn't quite as limitless as Katie's. [Saudi team enters] Couric: I love when the athletes wear their traditional clothing. This is not traditional, this is worn still in Saudi Arabia. Costas: Since the wakeup call of 9/11, Americans have become more aware of aspects of Saudi society beyond the oil and their nominal status...

Iraqis and Americans embrace the Olympic spirit as the Games begin. By Phil Sheridan Inquirer Columnist ATHENS - The marching column of Americans approached the small band of Iraqis. And they waved. And they applauded each other. It really can be that easy. This brief episode during last night's opening ceremonies was a reminder that all of the most corny stuff about the Olympics is also the most true. It really does matter that human beings, who are capable of such savagery, also are able to build beautiful arenas and stadiums, and then gather to watch a few pursue greatness....

(Talon News) -- Iraq made its first Olympic appearance in 12 years Thursday when its national soccer team beat Portugal 4-2. While the upset victory on the field was sweet, the players reveled in the knowledge that they would not be tortured upon their return to Iraq. Saddam Hussein's son, Uday was the director of Iraq's Olympic committee. Players who performed poorly were often subjected to brutal torture and long imprisonment. But none of those painful memories or the dangerous situation that still exists in Iraq was evident as the upstarts defeated a team considered to be a contender for...

Iraq scores 4 goals against medalist favorite Portugal to shock the soccer world.

"It's mixed feelings," Zaki said. "People are dying, and here we are watching this. But we must continue to live."

PATRAS/HERAKLIO, Aug 12 (SW) – The team from a war-torn Iraq stunned the world on Thursday, defeating Portugal 4-2 in their Olympic Games opening match. Also in Group D, Costa Rica and Morocco played to a draw. Portugal went ahead in the 13th minute on an own goal by Haidar Jabar. A ball in from the corner by Hugo Almeida deflected off of Jabar and past Nour Sabri to put Portugal 1-0 ahead. However, a mistake by Portugal’s defence led to a fairly quick equaliser. A backpass was intercepted by Iraq and striker Emad Mohamed dribbled around Portuguese goalkeeper Moreira...

While Iraq remains in the grip of conflict, the nation's football team are far away from home, in Greece, battling for a historic medal. Coach Adnan Hamd's men may be preparing for their Olympic campaign in a beautiful hotel on the beach in Patras, but their thoughts are very much with their families in Baghdad. "Of course the players are worried about their families," the coach told FIFA.com. "The situation in Iraq is very serious, and the country has a lot of problems." For Hamd and his coaching staff, the main objective is to keep the players' heads as clear...

New Iraq Sends Team to the Olympics By Christina Haines August 6, 2004 Iraq still has its problems and so does Iraqi athletics, but the country is better off since the U.S.-led coalition arrived. I was watching the news with my roommate recently when a report came on about a series of car bombings in Iraq that killed 68 people. My roommate sighed and shook her head. "It just keeps getting worse and worse," she said. She is wrong. Although the road to peace and democracy in Iraq is a bumpy one, the country is not worse off today than...

Iraq Sends Olympic Team to Athens audio iconAll Things Considered audio The Iraqi Olympic team posted the banners on a table during a news conference Monday. The Iraqi Olympic team posted banners on a table during a news conference Monday. Credit: Howard Berkes, NPR Aug. 9, 2004 -- Iraq is fielding its first Olympic team since the ouster of Saddam Hussein. Iraqi athletes spoke in Athens of their excitement about competing in the Summer Games. Their 29 athletes include a soccer unit, a swimmer and two runners, among others. But the Iraqi team is small, and its participation is expected...

THE Australian air force has airlifted the Iraqi Olympic team out of Baghdad at the start of its journey to Athens. A Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft flew the 48-member team from Baghdad International Airport earlier today under tight security. The team was flown to Jordan to meet connecting flights into Athens where the Games begin with an opening ceremony this Friday. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was proud that the Australian Defence Force had been able to help the Iraqis get to Athens. "I think it's very appropriate that a country like Australia, which has helped...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Torture equipment used by Saddam Hussein's slain son, Odai, to punish underperforming Iraqi athletes was displayed Saturday at a Baghdad sports stadium in advance of the opening of the Olympics next month in Athens.