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Come discuss the 2008 Beijing Summer games with a couple of fanatics!
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Update on Iranian Judo Boycott
World judo officials debated whether sanctions against Iran were appropriate after Iranian Arash Miresmaeili refused to fight an Israeli in what appeared to be a political boycott.
Arash Miresmaeili was quoted by an Iranian news agency as saying: "Although I have trained for months and am in shape I refused to face my Israeli rival in sympathy with the oppressed Palestinian people ... I am not upset about the decision I have made."
A report has surfaced that Miresmaeili didn't make weight by 2 kg (4.4 lbs) has surfaced. As it is highly unusual for such a judo expert (Miresmaeli is a world champion) to be so far over his weight, the question now is, did he not make his weight so that he would not have to fight the Israeli? If so, his actions go against Olympic ideals and sanctions may be placed against both Miresmaeili and the Iranian Judo program.
An Iranian National Olympic Committee spokesperson in Tehran told Reuters on Sunday that Miresmaeli had been instructed not to compete. "This is a general policy of our country to refrain from competing against athletes of the Zionist regime and Arash Miresmaeili has observed this policy," she said. Asked whether refusing to fight was his decision she said, "No".
In contrast to all this controversy, an Israeli team spokesman stated on Saturday, "We have come to Athens to participate in sport and not in politics. The nationality of Israel's opponents is unimportant and they will face anybody."
World judo officials debated whether sanctions against Iran were appropriate after Iranian Arash Miresmaeili refused to fight an Israeli in what appeared to be a political boycott.
Arash Miresmaeili was quoted by an Iranian news agency as saying: "Although I have trained for months and am in shape I refused to face my Israeli rival in sympathy with the oppressed Palestinian people ... I am not upset about the decision I have made."
A report has surfaced that Miresmaeili didn't make weight by 2 kg (4.4 lbs) has surfaced. As it is highly unusual for such a judo expert (Miresmaeli is a world champion) to be so far over his weight, the question now is, did he not make his weight so that he would not have to fight the Israeli? If so, his actions go against Olympic ideals and sanctions may be placed against both Miresmaeili and the Iranian Judo program.
An Iranian National Olympic Committee spokesperson in Tehran told Reuters on Sunday that Miresmaeli had been instructed not to compete. "This is a general policy of our country to refrain from competing against athletes of the Zionist regime and Arash Miresmaeili has observed this policy," she said. Asked whether refusing to fight was his decision she said, "No".
In contrast to all this controversy, an Israeli team spokesman stated on Saturday, "We have come to Athens to participate in sport and not in politics. The nationality of Israel's opponents is unimportant and they will face anybody."
