Iraq at the 2012 Summer Olympics Iraq at the 2012 Summer Olympics The Middle Eastern nation of Iraq competed at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Olympics since its debut at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the same host city. Before the Olympic Games started, FIFA banned Iraq from hosting qualifiers in the World Cup and even in the Olympics for security concerns, and for having a player with two cards participated in a match against United Arab Emirates. Iraq also competed for the first time in Olympics without receiving
Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) chose Rio de Janeiro as its bidding city to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, during its Annual Assembly on September 1, 2006. This was the city's first bid that proceeded to the Candidature phase, after three failed attempts to host the Games in 1936, 2004 and 2012. The lengthy and intensive bidding process was concluded with the election of Rio de Janeiro as the host city during the 121st IOC Session, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 2, 2009. It is the first city in South America to host the Games. Rio de