The IOC is a joke

Did you see that the International Olympic Committee has decreed that Iraq cannot field a team at this year’s Olympic games? Something to do with “government interference” and the IOC not recognizing those now in charge of the country’s program.

So let me see if I understand this: When Iraq’s Olympic program was run by a sadist who would torture and execute athletes for losing, they were welcome to participate. But now that the people of Iraq actually have control of their government and are trying to create an equitable system of sending athletes to the games, that’s unacceptable? Is the IOC serious? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

This is where we stand now: The IOC has awarded the 2008 games to a repressive dictatorship housed in Beijing; the game’s host has decided to institute segregation at bars and hotels; and the IOC has suspended freedom of speech for the duration of the Olympic games so as not to upset their fickle hosts. And now Uday Hussein has been judged a superior person than Iraq’s current Olympic officials. Wow. If this is what it means to be a citizen of the world, count me out.