Iraqi athletes, U.S. politicians join to lift spirits
By Jim Tankersley, Rocky Mountain News
July 7, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS - For a week, the Iraqi athletes working out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center have pestered Eli Bremer, an American pentathlete and center tour guide.
Ever since they learned his uncle was L. Paul Bremer, former coalition administrator to Iraq, the visitors have wanted to meet Eli's dad, Duncan, to thank him for his brother's role in rebuilding their country.
Their wish came true Tuesday - and then some - shortly after Eli led a tour group into a warm, steamy room, where young women were throwing one another across squishy blue mats.
The group included former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer, who is running for U.S. Senate; two campaign aides; and Eli's father. The men watched the wrestlers for a minute, then turned to greet a stocky, smiling man, who had just walked in behind them.
After politely greeting the group, the visitor poured praise on Eli's uncle, a hero of sorts to the Iraqi athletes.
"He is a great man, Mr. Bremer," said Mustafa Saraj, the international affairs director for the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, because of "all that he has done for my country."
Soon, more Iraqis filed in - two wrestlers, a fencer, another coach. They answered questions from Schaffer and found themselves pulled into bear hugs by Duncan Bremer, who brushed away tears and said over and over, "This is so exciting."
Eli swears the whole thing was an accident. He lives at the training center and gives tours there, and he was scheduled to take Schaffer on one Tuesday morning. Eli invited his father to tag along.
Showing off the center to a potential senator is always a good thing, Eli said. It's also a good thing to accommodate guests - the Iraqis in this case - who had badgered Eli all week for a chance to meet his dad.
The chance came in the steamy wrestling room, while female wrestlers flipped and thumped in the background. After hugging and posing for some photos, the Iraqis and Americans met again in the complex cafeteria for lunch.
There, Schaffer peppered the visitors with questions about their country. What was life like under Saddam Hussein? (Difficult, especially difficult to make a living.) What will they tell their neighbors about America? (People are very nice, and they're always smiling.)
What will Iraq look like in 10 years? "I hope that in 10 years in Iraq," said Jamal Hassn, a fencing coach, "we will find prosperity; the economy improved."
Schaffer asked about the future of democracy in Iraq. Saraj said he already knows it will work: This year, Iraqis elected their own Olympic governing body, he said.
Lunch ended, but Eli had one last treat. He motioned the group upstairs, to a small classroom with a speaker phone. He borrowed a Schaffer staffer's phone card and dialed "Jerry" - as L. Paul Bremer is known to friends and family - in Washington, D.C.
The former administrator, just home after the transfer of power in Iraq, answered. For 15 minutes, rapt Iraqi team members thanked him for his work in their country. They asked him to pass their regards on to President Bush.
Helping restart the Olympic committee, Saraj said, "is one of your great achievements, and it will be a very big achievement to see us march in the Olympics."
"Yes, it will be," L. Paul Bremer agreed.
Duncan Bremer thanked his brother and hung up. The team filed out, all smiles. They're scheduled to board a flight home today.
"When you all go back home," Schaffer said, "please carry a message for us, just how excited we are; how our hearts are with the Iraqi people."
Eli said he hoped messages got across to both sides.
It's a good experience, he said, for American politicians and some potential future leaders of Iraq to see one another's lives.
"I think it worked out well," he said.
By Jim Tankersley, Rocky Mountain News
July 7, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS - For a week, the Iraqi athletes working out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center have pestered Eli Bremer, an American pentathlete and center tour guide.
Ever since they learned his uncle was L. Paul Bremer, former coalition administrator to Iraq, the visitors have wanted to meet Eli's dad, Duncan, to thank him for his brother's role in rebuilding their country.
Their wish came true Tuesday - and then some - shortly after Eli led a tour group into a warm, steamy room, where young women were throwing one another across squishy blue mats.
The group included former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer, who is running for U.S. Senate; two campaign aides; and Eli's father. The men watched the wrestlers for a minute, then turned to greet a stocky, smiling man, who had just walked in behind them.
After politely greeting the group, the visitor poured praise on Eli's uncle, a hero of sorts to the Iraqi athletes.
"He is a great man, Mr. Bremer," said Mustafa Saraj, the international affairs director for the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, because of "all that he has done for my country."
Soon, more Iraqis filed in - two wrestlers, a fencer, another coach. They answered questions from Schaffer and found themselves pulled into bear hugs by Duncan Bremer, who brushed away tears and said over and over, "This is so exciting."
Eli swears the whole thing was an accident. He lives at the training center and gives tours there, and he was scheduled to take Schaffer on one Tuesday morning. Eli invited his father to tag along.
Showing off the center to a potential senator is always a good thing, Eli said. It's also a good thing to accommodate guests - the Iraqis in this case - who had badgered Eli all week for a chance to meet his dad.
The chance came in the steamy wrestling room, while female wrestlers flipped and thumped in the background. After hugging and posing for some photos, the Iraqis and Americans met again in the complex cafeteria for lunch.
There, Schaffer peppered the visitors with questions about their country. What was life like under Saddam Hussein? (Difficult, especially difficult to make a living.) What will they tell their neighbors about America? (People are very nice, and they're always smiling.)
What will Iraq look like in 10 years? "I hope that in 10 years in Iraq," said Jamal Hassn, a fencing coach, "we will find prosperity; the economy improved."
Schaffer asked about the future of democracy in Iraq. Saraj said he already knows it will work: This year, Iraqis elected their own Olympic governing body, he said.
Lunch ended, but Eli had one last treat. He motioned the group upstairs, to a small classroom with a speaker phone. He borrowed a Schaffer staffer's phone card and dialed "Jerry" - as L. Paul Bremer is known to friends and family - in Washington, D.C.
The former administrator, just home after the transfer of power in Iraq, answered. For 15 minutes, rapt Iraqi team members thanked him for his work in their country. They asked him to pass their regards on to President Bush.
Helping restart the Olympic committee, Saraj said, "is one of your great achievements, and it will be a very big achievement to see us march in the Olympics."
"Yes, it will be," L. Paul Bremer agreed.
Duncan Bremer thanked his brother and hung up. The team filed out, all smiles. They're scheduled to board a flight home today.
"When you all go back home," Schaffer said, "please carry a message for us, just how excited we are; how our hearts are with the Iraqi people."
Eli said he hoped messages got across to both sides.
It's a good experience, he said, for American politicians and some potential future leaders of Iraq to see one another's lives.
"I think it worked out well," he said.
