http://news.xinhuanet.com, CANBERRA: The Australian government announced on Sunday that the Australian Defense Force has flown the Iraqi Olympic team from Baghdad to start their journey to Athens for the Olympic Games starting from Aug. 13-29.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft lifted the 48-member team from Baghdad International Airport amid tight security earlier Sunday.
“This assistance will enable a very special group of athletes to achieve their dreams of competing in the greatest sporting event of the modern era,” Australian defense minister Robert Hill and foreign minister Alexander Downer said in a joint statement.
“We, along with all Australians, wish the Iraqi Olympic team our warmest support,” said the ministers.
It was reported that the team was flown to Jordan to meet connecting flights into Athens.
Australia sent 2,000 troops for the Iraq war last year and now still keeps about 900 military personnel in and around the war-torn Middle East country.
