Iraq at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Iraq at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeIRQ
NOCNational Olympic Committee of Iraq
Websitewww.iraqiolympic.org (in Arabic)
in Beijing
Competitors4 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Hamzah Al-Hilfi
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Iraq competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. As of late July, seven Iraqis—two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer[1]—had qualified to compete in seven events in five sports at the Beijing Olympics,[2] and twenty have qualified to take part in the Beijing Paralympics (see Iraq at the 2008 Summer Paralympics).[3]

On July 24, 2008, it was announced that Iraq would be banned from the 2008 Olympics.[4] After five days of negotiations, the International Olympic Committee lifted the ban.[5] Five of Iraq's seven athletes missed the deadlines for their competitions, though the men's rowing team was allowed to compete by the International Rowing Federation, after North Korea declined the offer of places in rowing and they were re-allocated to Iraq.[6]

Thus, Iraq has four representatives: Haidar Nasir in the discus throw, Dana Hussein in sprinting,[7] and Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur in men's double scull.[8]

  1. ^ "Iraq banned from Beijing Olympics". BBC. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  2. ^ "Iraqi team barred from 2008 Olympics". UPI. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  3. ^ "Iraq's Paralympic Fencing Team". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  4. ^ Paley, Amit R.; Amy Shipley (2008-07-25). "IOC Says Iraq Won't Be Allowed at Olympics". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  5. ^ "Olympic panel ends ban, says Iraq can go to games". Associated Press. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  6. ^ "Iraqi athletes competing at Olympics double to four", Xinhua, August 1, 2008
  7. ^ "Iraq to take part in Beijing Olympics". Xinhua News Agency. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  8. ^ "Iraq rowers to compete in Beijing". International Rowing Federation. 2008-07-31. Archived from the original on 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-07-31.