Iraq's Olympic team head to Britain hoping to secure medals, an achievement which could help solidify what remains a fragile national identity.

But poor infrastructure and difficulties in training mean their chances, pitted against better-equipped and better-trained athletes, look slim.

"Weapons and ammunition are all outdated -- all of our equipment is old compared to other countries, Arab and European," said Noor Aamer Jassim, who will be competing in air pistol shooting.

But the 18-year-old is still hopeful.

"Sport is my life," said the shy, headscarf-wearing youth who dreams of one day working full-time in the field.

"I feel very proud to participate in the Olympics in London. I hope to win a medal, to see my country's flag raised."

The small team are comprised of two runners, a swimmer, an archer, a shooter, a boxer, a weightlifter and a wrestler.

Jassim is one of eight athletes -- five men and three women -- the youngest of whom is just 15 years old, heading to the Games which kick off in London on July 27.

Iraq has historically fared poorly at the Olympics. Its sole medal came during the 1960 Rome Games when Abdul Wahid Aziz won a bronze in men's lightweight weightlifting.

The lack of success over the past decade has been put down to the dangerous security situation and poor sporting infrastructure that mean athletes often have to train abroad or on make-shift sites.

Their nutrition and exercise programmes pale in comparison to more developed sporting nations.

"We have at times experienced difficult situations when it comes to training," admitted Adnan Taess who runs the 800m.

"Training requires a good atmosphere and a stable situation. For now, we have to leave the country so that we can train properly," the 32-year-old said.

Swimmer Mohanad Ahmed, 15, competing in the 100-metre butterfly, said most pools in Iraq fall short of international standards.

"It's very important for a swimmer to train in an Olympic-size pool, at a proper temperature," he said.

And in addition to the decades of conflict and sanctions that have plagued Iraq, athletes must also deal with scorching summer temperatures which regularly top 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

"Iraqi sport is still in need of better infrastructure," admitted Raad Hammoodi al-Dulaimi, president of Iraq's Olympic Committee and a legendary goalkeeper of the national team.

"But this is no excuse to not proceed with developing sport -- the government has made lots of efforts to build sites.

"Our goal is not about the results: we hope to win, but our sports programme is still in its infancy. We must support all types of sport."

Dulaimi also hopes Iraq's Olympians will help heal divisions in a society torn by a brutal sectarian war in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion that left tens of thousands dead and divided neighbourhoods and communities.

"Sport unites the people of Iraq; this is not the case with politicians," he said. AFP