Participation of Iraqi Athletes in the Athens Olympics

The president of the National Olympic Committees Union states that several athletes from Iraq will participate in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Athens, even if the Iraqi National Olympic Committee is not fully established. Mario Vasquez Rana, the president of the union, mentions that between 13 to 19 Iraqi athletes will be in Athens for the Olympics, which will take place from August 13 to 29. He adds that Iraq could gain full membership in the Olympic Committees Union after the Olympics. The Iraqi National Olympic Committee was suspended on May 17, following the intervention of American and British forces against the regime of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The union comprises 201 national Olympic committees, and all members, except for Brunei, have gathered for a three-day meeting in Athens. The agenda of the Olympic Committees Union during these meetings includes discussions on organizing the Athens Olympics and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. On Wednesday, union members are scheduled to have a three-hour discussion regarding the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Athens Summer Olympics will be the first Olympics where all national Olympic committees and participating governments must sign an anti-doping code or charter before their athletes can compete.