There have been a number of attacks on Iraqi athletes, including the slaying of the coach of the national tennis team and two tennis players in May.
Earlier today, a suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of police volunteers in Baghdad, killing himself and at least 15 police officers and recruits.
The Iraqi authorities say 15 others were wounded in the attack. Police are frequent targets of insurgents fighting U.S.-led forces and the Shi'ite led government.
The deadly blast came shortly after officials said that more than 1,100 new policemen have been recruited to work in the restive western province of Al-Anbar.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military reported that a Marine died of wounds sustained in Al-Anbar province, while another soldier died on December 20 in a bomb explosion in Baghdad.
(compiled from agency reports)