BAGHDAD, July 21: Iraqi Olympic chief Ahmed al-Hajiya is dreaming of Olympic glory next month, while his British advisor sees Athens as a business opportunity to woo new sponsors and sell television rights.

"We are good at several sports, such as taekwondo and we are good in boxing," Ahmed al-Hajiya said at his office on the banks of the Tigris in the centre of Baghdad. Mark Clark, his British advisor, is less romantic.

"We are not realistically expecting a medal, but we hope," he said. "Football is unpredictable, so you never know," added Clark, who was sports advisor to Iraq under the dissolved Coalition Provisional Authority, which transferred power to an interim Iraqi government on June 28.

Clark decided to stay on in a supportive role to help the Olympic committee but he appears to be running the show. Iraq qualified for two sports in Athens - football and weightlifting, through Ali Abdul Mohammed. They were also invited to compete in swimming, athletics, taekwondo, boxing and judo. -AFP