EFL
Hat tip to ANDREW SULLIVAN
Iraqi athletes in the past were "motivated" by the evil and sadistic Uday Hussein who was president of the Iraqi National Olympic Commitee. He used torture and imprisonment as ways to get through to the Olympians. With Uday now gone forever, the Iraqi athletes are happy and excited about the prospects of the 2004 Olympics. Boxers have now begun competing to attempt to qualify for the games.
| It's going to be a new experience, only getting beat up once... |
The fighters are being supplied new equipment including shoes, mouthpieces and boxing gloves by the Americans. "I have been practicing boxing since 1993 and I never had better equipment, " said one member of the Iraqi team, Ayad Farhat. "It is great. We are really motivated." Uday had the boxers buy their own equipment and paid them 2 dollars a month. They are now getting $150 a month from America. The new boxing club in Al Hillah has dormitories with bunk beds and a pair of boxing rings. "With God’s will and with the help of the Americans, we will achieve good results and raise the Iraqi flag in Athens,’’ said coach Abdul-Zahara Jawad.
| Assuming none of your compatriots blows up the Olympic village... |
"We feel much better. Our salaries are good, our needs are met. The Americans are offering moral support,’’ said fighter Zuhier Khudier. "Now we will be motivated by national pride, not by fear of Uday.’’
Good story. Please read the whole thing. |