SIGNS OF PROGRESS

Iraq took a big leap forward in an effort to have its athletes compete at this year's Summer Games in Athens, as the country elected a new National Olympic Committee on Thursday.

The new NOC replaces the one led by Saddam Hussein's son, Odai, who was killed in a battle with United States forces in Mosul on July 22. Odai was accused of torturing, jailing and even killing athletes who did not perform to his standards. There were even reports that Odai used Iraq's Olympic center as a torture site, until the building was destroyed by U.S. led warplanes and missiles.