Iraq Out of the Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Iraq will not be allowed to take part in the upcoming Olympics.

This is the result of the Iraqi government replacing the country's Olympic committee with its own appointees.

The IOC expresses regret that no Iraqi athletes will be at the Olympics, and says they have been "ill-served" by their governments actions.

The Iraqi government has claimed that the original committee was corrupt and was not working properly. According to IOC regulations, committees must be free of political influence.

The real victims are the athletes who've been training hard and looking forward to participating in the Olympics. At least 7 athletes were slotted to take part. Iraqi sprinter Dana Hussain broke down and cried when she heard the news of the ban.

It's also a blow for Iraq in its journey to regain some semblance of normalcy as a nation.

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U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Suffers Blow From Abby Wambach's Broken Leg

The U.S. Women's Soccer team have had hopes of going for gold, with their star player and top scorer Abby Wambach. But in an exhibition match against Brazil on Wednesday, she violently collided with a Brazilian player. She suffered fractures to the tibia and fibula in her left leg.

She had been doing brilliantly until then. She had scored 99 goals in 127 appearnces.

She underwent surgery successfully the next morning. It involved a "nail placement". The surgeon said it was a significant injury to her bone.

She will need two months or so to recuperate, and the Olympic team will have to go ahead without her.


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Anna Willard Sets Steeplechase Record - U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

Anna Willard has broken the U.S. record in the 3,000-metre steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, which took place at the University of Oregon.

The record set last year was 9 minutes 28:75 seconds. Willard has set a new record at 9 minutes 27:59 seconds.

She won the national title last year at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships.

She will be one of the three women representing the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics in the steeplechase event.

Joining her will be Lindsey Anderson, who came second, and Jennifer Barringer, who came third.


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Baron Davis Opts Out of Golden State Warriors Contract

The basketball world is stunned by Baron Davis' decision to opt out of some $17.8 million owed him in the final season of his six -year contract with the Golden State Warriors.

As a result, Davis is now an unrestricted free agent. Warriors Coach Don Nelson is surprised by his decision, with such a large sum of money involved. He is not the only one.

The talk is that Davis would go the route of the Los Angeles Clippers, a move back to his hometown where he was a UCLA star. The Clippers want him are also reconsidering their plans. To make space to sign on Davis, they will probably have to renounce Corey Maggette, but keep a low-level deal for Elton Brand.

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