Iranian Athletes To Boycott Zionists Also In London Olympics

Tehran, June 23, IRNA -- The sports minister said here Friday that Iranian athletes will just as always refrain from competing against Zionist regime’s representatives if in drawing lots they would have to do so, as Iranians do not recognize legitimacy of forged Zionist regime. The Islamic Republic of Iran Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mohammad Abbasi made the comment on the sideline of attending a practice session of the Iranian National Wrestling Teams in an interview with an IRNA Sports Desk reporter. He added in response to IRNA, “Not competing with the Zionist athletes is one of the values and prides of the Iranian athletes and nation.” On possibility of deprivation of the Iranian athletes from gaining their deserved medals if they would refrain from competing against Zionist regime representatives, he said, “God willing such a thing will not happen, but if it does we would definitely find a way to solve the problem.” The sports and youth affairs minister referring to the sports clubs deprivation of subsidies this year, said, “No money has been paid by the government to the sports clubs this year, as their expenses can be covered only in accordance with the national budget articles.” He also expressed dissatisfaction over the soccer players’ transfers among sports clubs, arguing, “The high contrast between the contracts signed with the soccer players and the athletes in other sports fields is unreasonable.” Abbasi reiterated, “Concerned officials in soccer players’ transfers must find a way to decrease the high amount of money transferred in this field.” The sports minister meanwhile confirmed, “Of course huge money spent in world football is a commonplace phenomenon and that money definitely has financial sponsors.” Abbasi added, “Football has many financial supporters, but the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs dose not discriminate in paying bonuses to the sportsmen and women on the one side, and the national teams’ athletes on the other side, and we abide by the related rules and regulations, anyways.” He reiterated, “It has been arranged that those who would bring home medals from the London Olympics would have life time salaries, whose amount would be announced later, and their family members, too, would be benefited from those salaries.” In many worldwide competitions, where Israel does take part, such as the Olympics, some Arab and Muslim competitors avoid competing against Israelis. Iranian athletes have ever since the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution been boycotting entire competitions against the Zionist regime athletes and athletic teams, even at cost of losing valuable medals, to protest to the illegitimate occupation of Palestine by that usurper regime and the sixty year massacre, deportation, and siege of its real owners, the Palestinians./end