IOC reverses ban, says Iraq can go to Olympics
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The International Olympic Committee says Iraq can take part in Beijing Games, lifting its previous ban.
IOC officials say they have reversed an earlier decision because the government has pledged to ensure the independence of its national Olympic committee.
The decision follows last-minute talks Tuesday between Iraqi officials and the IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Iraq is expected to send two athletes to Beijing. Five others lost their chance to go when the final date to select competitors for archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting passed last week.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has lifted a ban on Iraqi athletes participating in the Beijing Olympics. The IOC placed a ban on the country's participation on July 24 claiming a political influence within Iraq's national Olympic committee. This came after the Iraqi government's suspension of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Iraq in May 2008.

The decision to remove the ban is a result of the Iraqi government's agreement to allow free elections for their National Olympic Committee while under international scrutiny. "The National Olympic Committee will have fair elections before the end of November," said Pere Miro, Director of the IOC's relation with NOC's. In the meantime, Iraq's NOC will be run by a interim Committee approved by the IOC. 

Even though the ban has been lifted, five of the seven athletes are still unable to participate due to the final date of selections having passed. Two athletes participating in sprinting and rowing are expected to compete.

There has been some who believed that Iraq has been treated wrongly in the matter of their NOC. Ahmed Tabour, head of the Cultural and Sports Committee stated that "Iraq was never suspended during the days of Saddam Hussein, who personally appointed the national Olympic committee. The Iraqi people need hope, and sport gives them a lot of hope."