Iraq dreaming of Brazil 2014
It is almost ten years since war returned to Iraq, and although the situation has improved since then, the country remains plagued by high levels of violence. Hardly ideal conditions for sport to thrive, but football has retained its strong roots and the national team now boasts a realistic chance of reaching the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. A delegation…
Read in full »
An Olympian Inspiration
I was recently inspired by a Daily Mail article, which detailed how a 7/7 bomb blast survivor, who lost her legs in one of the London tube blasts has defied the odds, to represent Great Britain as a member of the volleyball team at the 2012 paralympics. Martine Wright, 39, was on a Circle Line Tube train when Al-Qaeda terrorist Shehzad Tanweer deton…
Read in full »
All going swimmingly for Ahmed
Swimmer Ahmed Kelly has drawn praise from Greg Hartung, President of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), after closing in on his ambition of competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games for his adopted country. The 20-year-old (pictured) was born in Iraq with significant deficiencies in all four limbs and was spent the majority of the firs…
Read in full »
Iraqi Women Bemoan Strictures
Female students at Iraqi colleges of physical education are frustrated they cannot put what they learn to practical use due to the conservative values in the society. Student Suaad Khadhum told RFI that "the social environment in present-day Iraq is not conducive to girls engaging in outdoor sports activities and even physical education students have t…
Read in full »
Iraq need to refocus
The Iraqis did not lose a single game in the 2007 finals as they marched to their first ever AFC Asian Cup title.Iraq captain Younes Mahmoud feels that the defending AFC Asian Cup champions must put their victory of four years ago behind them and regain their focus for the current campaign. Despite an early goal by Mahmoud, the Iraqis began the defence of t…
Read in full »
