Iraqi Wrestlers' Training Camp in the USA - 2004-02-06

The United States plans to train Iraqi wrestlers before the Athens Olympic Games. Paul Bremer, the American administrator for civilian affairs in Iraq, states that the U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will host and train a four-member Iraqi wrestling team. Mr. Bremer adds that Iraqi wrestlers have been invited by the American people to travel to Colorado Springs, USA, to practice in the facilities of the U.S. Olympic Committee. However, he did not specify when this team's trip to the U.S. would take place or the duration of their stay for training. This group of wrestlers will be the first Iraqis to be part of the future Olympic team of Iraq. They will compete under the Iraqi flag at the Olympics, provided that the IOC lifts the sanctions it imposed on Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Iraqi sports officials elected a new National Olympic Committee on January 29. The IOC Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on February 27 in Athens, where they are likely to decide whether to lift the sanctions and allow Iraqi athletes to compete under the Iraqi flag. If the sanctions remain in place, IOC officials have stated that Iraqi athletes can compete under the Olympic flag in Athens. It appears that several other Iraqi athletes have a chance to participate in the Olympics, especially in athletics, swimming, boxing, weightlifting, and taekwondo. The IOC is considering facilities to create camps for these athletes so they can train and prepare for the Olympics.