Comments:Iraq banned from participating in Beijing Olympics

how is the govt interfering? - Imind (talk) 20:38, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

This is bad
One of the main purposes of the Olympics, is to forget political conflicts, and to come together in the spirit of athletics. Iraq being banned goes in direct conflict with this ideal. Not only does this make China look worse than it does, but it begins a slippery slope to politicizing a great event. Shame on China. -- Poe Joe (Talk) 20:41, 24 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Re-read the article. It was not China took the decision, but the IOC. --Brian McNeil / talk 20:54, 24 July 2008 (UTC)
 * I apologize for my comments against China. But.  This is much worse!  The IOU agreeing to this atrocity?!  Like User:Louis Waweru said, these athletes have endured so much for this.  And my comment that the Olympics is becoming politicized still stands.  They have the same right as any other Olympic athlete to complete.  It really is a shame. -- Poe Joe (Talk) 04:00, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

I can't imagine what kind of training the athletes have endured. It's a shame that politics has ruined this for them. There should really be a team under the banner of Earth or something for people like them. Louis Waweru  Talk 22:24, 24 July 2008 (UTC)
 * I liked the rather facetious comment on the BBC site about the athlete who tried to appeal his lifetime Olympic ban. They called for a "drugged-up Olympics" just so they could see a man outrun a tiger. --Brian McNeil / talk 22:27, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

No, the purpose of the Olympics is to gain money for the IOC. I don't think this is politics so much as just beurocrasy. I mean the IOC does so many other underhanded things, they need to keep the Olympics respectable in some ways, including perhaps restricting the involvement of governments. Or maybe the no government rule is just to help maintain their power. 195.154.158.100 10:11, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

Interference
How can Iraq interfere with the Olympics? An odd punishment. Makes me wonder whether the U.S. government is seeking retribution for the Iraqi government expressing a public desire for a timeline. Manlong (talk) 15:06, 25 July 2008 (UTC)