Iraqi Olympic team upbeat en route to Beijing

KUWAIT CITY – Iraqi Olympians were upbeat Sunday about flying their country’s flag at the Beijing Games but were doubtful of returning home with any medals. The athletes, who stopped in Kuwait en route to China, said medal prospects were dim because of the difficulties of training in their war-ravaged country and uncertainty over whether they would be barred from going to the Olympics. Few had the opportunity to train abroad. In May, the International Olympic Committee suspended the Iraqi team over alleged government interference in Iraq’s national committee. The decision was reversed last month, allowing four—two rowers and two track and field athletes—of the original seven qualified athletes to compete. The other three will fly to Beijing from Kuwait on Monday if they are granted permission to participate. “Achieving the first three places is difficult because our preparations are incomplete, but it is enough we are participating. ... We’ll break records," said sprinter Dana Hussein, 21, the only woman among the four. Rower Hamza Hussein, 32, whose is known as the “old man" of the team, said players in other countries would train continuously for a year to be ready for the Olympics. But that was not possible for Iraqi athletes. “Training was on and off, every day in a different place because of the security situation," he said. His partner, Haidar Nozad, said on some days, it was not possible for him to make the 15-minute motorbike ride from his Baghdad home to the spot on the Tigris River where he trains because of the violence. Athletes in various sports have been kidnapped or killed in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Secretary General of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, Hussein al-Amidi, conceded training was lacking for some players, and the uncertainty caused by the dispute with the IOC took its toll on morale. But this time around, Iraqi athletes were not afraid of punishment if they don’t do well, he said. Saddam’s son Odai, who was in charge of sports before 2003, punished poor performers with torture or incarceration. The IOC allowed Iraq to take part in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens where it fielded 25 athletes. The country’s soccer team made it to the semifinals, prompting celebrations throughout a country. Iraq has only one bronze medal since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948. – AP