Baghdad, Iraq, May 20, 2025: The President of the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, Dr. Aqeel Muften, has revealed that the country will not participate in “weak” regional competitions and instead focus on winning its second Olympic medal.
Speaking on a television show, Dr. Muften emphasised the need to achieve results on a global stage rather than at regional championships. With this in mind, the Iraq NOC will suspend participation of its national athletes in these events.
“We have made a strategic decision to stop participation in the regional championships that are weak because we aspire to produce an Olympic champion who raises the flag internationally,” Dr. Muften said.
He clarified that the principal goal of the NOC was to “achieve an Olympic medal” with the focus now being on investing in young sporting talent and having specialised infrastructure.
Iraq has won only one Olympic medal in its history – a bronze in weightlifting at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
