COUNTDOWN TO BEIJING
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COUNTDOWN TO BEIJING
15
Days until Opening Ceremonies
FROM IRAN TO UTAH
The Rocky Mountain Revue summer league in Salt Lake City features the usual teams of rookies and hopefuls from the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets and a few other NBA squads.
This summer, though, there is an interesting guest: Iran's Olympic team.
When Iran qualified for the Olympic basketball tournament for the first time in 60 years by winning the Asian championships last summer, sport officials realized their athletes needed some tuning up.
After workouts in Italy and games in Slovenia, the Iranian team landed smack in the middle of Salt Lake City with assistance from the NBA, U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. State Department -- all of which welcomed the visitors despite the tensions between Iran and the West.
With a 79-62 opening loss to the Mavericks on Saturday and an 82-57 loss Monday to Utah, it's been rough but productive going for the inexperienced Iranians, who have no NBA players.
PUTIN RSVPs
Count Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin among the world leaders expected to attend the Opening Ceremonies.
Putin, President Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have said they will be at the Aug. 8 ceremony.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are among those who have said they plan to stay away. Officials in many EU states have called for a boycott over China's human rights record.
ON THE WEB
More Olympics coverage online at washingtonpost.com/olympics
CALENDAR
| Date | Event (Site) |
| Friday | Men's basketball exhibition -- U.S. vs. Canada, Las Vegas |
-- From News Services and Staff Reports
