ATLANTA, JANUARY 28, 2004 – Ed Hula, editor-in-chief of Around the Rings, the world’s leading publication focusing on the Olympics, has been invited by the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sport to report on elections for the new Iraqi National Olympic Committee on Jan. 29. Hula is the only Western journalist specifically invited to cover what are believed to be the first free elections in more than 30 years.
The International Olympic Committee suspended the Iraqi National Olympic Committee last May when it was still headed by Uday Hussein. The elections could pave the way for the suspension to be lifted as soon as next month. That would allow Iraqi athletes to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics, which start in Athens Aug. 13.
‘This is very important and exactly what we need — a respectable and trustworthy source of information to cover what are we trying to do to establish the new Iraqi sport,’ said Mustafa Saraj, international affairs director, of the decision to invite Hula.
The elections will be held in the northern city of Suleymaniyah. Representatives of Iraq’s sports federations, athletes and officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sport will elect the new leadership. A delegation from the IOC will oversee the elections. Re-establishment of sport in Iraq is considered key to restoring civil order.
Ahmed Al Sammarai is the sole candidate for president. Currently chairman of the Interim Committee to Administer Sport, he returned to Iraq last year after years of exile.
‘As the world’s leading Olympic publication, Around the Rings has closely followed these developments since the war began last year,’ Hula. ‘Our coverage of these elections in Iraq is the latest in our ongoing, comprehensive coverage of the Olympic movement..’
Hula is often sought out by other media for his knowledge of the Olympic Movement. While he is in Iraq, Hula will discuss the elections on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition with Bob Edwards on Thursday. On Friday, he can be heard on Voice of America’s Sports Talkers with David Byrd at 14:33 UTC.
Around the Rings is the only publication in the world to provide on-site coverage of every key Olympic event.
Founded in 1992, ATR is acknowledged as the leading source of information about the $5 billion Olympic movement. ATR’s unique, unbiased and often exclusive access to key players in the Olympic family results in insight and commentary not found in any other publication.
For more details contact:
Sheila Scott Hula, Publisher (404) 874-1603
Sheila@aroundtherings.com, http://www.aroundtherings.com.