Olympic non-participation by Iranian athlete

[Pipanella]

This is just WRONG:

Athens
Olympic spirit falters: Iran’s world champion judo wrestler withdrew this week from the Olympics rather than wrestle against an Israeli. When the Iranian delegation found that wrestler Arash Mir-Esmaeili was scheduled to face Israeli Ehud Vaks, it ordered him to disqualify himself from the competition. “We recognize this hero’s sacrifice,” said Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. “He will go down in Iranian history with honor and pride.” Even though he will not compete, Mir-Esmaeili will receive the $115,000 the Iranian government pays to each gold medalist. Iran does not officially recognize the existence of Israel, which it calls “the Zionist entity.”

-from Sept. 3 issue of The Week

I'm sorry, but when you agree to participate in the Olympics, you KNOW you may have to compete against a nation you don't agree with, or in this case, don't even recognize. If you can't play the game the way it's supposed to be played, then I don't think you should be allowed to play at all.

This situation is wrong on so many levels...

[kells3]

I was thinking the same thing as you but then my dh said what do you think will happen to him when he gets home if he does compete. So if he feared for the safty of himself and his family then I can understand why he would withdrawl.

[mayfly]

*sigh*
was it always like this? I haven't seen the Olympics in like 12 years, was there always all this contriversy?

[mrbowler]

Yep perfect example of why politics should be kept out of the Olympics.

[Pipanella]

Originally Posted by kells3

I was thinking the same thing as you but then my dh said what do you think will happen to him when he gets home if he does compete. So if he feared for the safty of himself and his family then I can understand why he would withdrawl.

Well, sure, I can see why he did, too, but I think the Iranian delegation was wrong, and I still think they shouldn't be allowed to compete if they're going to do stuff like that.

[whitequeen96]

Mayfly, I would say that yes, it has always been like this, with lots of political "stuff" involved. I don't know if anyone here is old enough to remember the Munich Olympics in 1972. But 11 Israeli athletes were murdered there by PLO terrorists. That was the worst!

[Pipanella]

I not only remember the Munich Olympics, I did a term paper on them my junior year of high school (1972-73). It was a great Olympics that featured some memorable athletes (Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut won the hearts of the world and Mark Spitz won an unprecedented 7 gold medals), but the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] of the Israeli athletes forever marred the beauty of those games.

The Rhodesian delegation was banned from those Olympics by the IOC for their apartheid politics.

So, countries have been banned before for their political moves, and I think it's time someone stepped up and told Iran, "There is no room for private political antics in the Olympics. Unless you can leave your personal problems at home, then GO home."

[Twinplets]

Originally Posted by mayfly

*sigh*
was it always like this? I haven't seen the Olympics in like 12 years, was there always all this contriversy?

In 1980, the US (and I think other countries) boycotted the summer Olympics being held in Moscow because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And then in 1984, the Soviets and many, if not most, of the Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the summer Olympics in Low Angeles claiming they were worried about security problems, but most likely in retaliation for the US boycott of the previous Olympics.

[Pipanella]

I think Iran should have boycotted the Olympics, too, if they were going to be so choosy about who they competed against. If you're going to play, play. If not, stay home.

[luvmetender]

Easy for an American to say...

[Pipanella]

....

[tschmitt]

you know why they were probably really worried, why they made him back out?

Because he might have lost, and you can't lose to your enemy that you think shouldn't even be alive...for that alone, he'd probably have his whole family chopped up in front of his eyes, and then be murdered.

Just the difference between the civilized world, and the Arab countries.