Iranian athletes invited to USA (BBC)

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By Mihir Bose
BBC sports editor in Beijing

America has made a dramatic attempt to repair its relations with the Middle East by inviting Iranian athletes to train in the United States.

The move was made with the blessing of the US State Department, said the US Olympic Committee's chief of International Relations, Robert Fasulo.

The USOC hopes that repairing relations with Iran will help secure its goal of hosting the 2016 Games.

It hopes a formal sporting treaty with Iran will be signed in Tehran soon.

The plan is for wrestlers to become the first Iranian athletes to travel to the US in August, with others - including water polo players, gymnasts and athletes - following.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/6591941.stm