Culture  Sports  London Olympics
Iran denies athletes will compete against Israelis
Dudi Cohen
Published: 24.07.12, 14:05
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29 Talkbacks for this article
1. where are the "Iran lovers" now ?
Frank T   (07.24.12)
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gloated publicly on Thursday over the deaths of Israelis in a terror bombing in Bulgaria, and hinted that Iran was responsible for the attack. “They have indeed succeeded in inflicting blows upon us more than once, but have been rewarded with a far stronger response.” So what is Israel waiting for anymore ? So what further evidence is needed ??? Tell Obama, Ashton & P5.1 to jump in the nearest sewer. Bomb Iran now or be nuked.
2. Mofaz, Shelly & Meir Dagan
(07.24.12)
Stupid Kadima & Labour worry only about how to gain votes and grab power. Meanwhile Iran is laughing at the internal Israeli squabbles and proceeding full speed ahead with the bomb. Only Netanyahu & Likud can guarantee the security of Israel. Once Iran gets the bomb, Mofaz, Shelly & Meir Dagan can pack their bags and emigrate to Sudan.
3. Lies once again
Dan ,   Florida - Tel Aviv   (07.24.12)
Once again the Iranians have shown themselves to be liars. Certainly this uphold the tenets of their Koran. When will we realize that the disease that has infected Iran are the black eyed mullahs and there needs to be a decapitation of them and the Iranian guard.
4. Yet still allowed in Olympics -- Iran's special treatment?
Serge ,   Montreal, Canada   (07.24.12)
When your government states publicly, prior to the Olympics, that it will not abide by basic sportsmanship and will decline to participate in matches against countries it does not like -- are you not ordinarily then asked not to participate in the sporting event, especially one which claims to have a "spirit" like the Olympics? Why is Iran being given special treatment?
5. iran will compete against Israelis
john ,   uk   (07.24.12)
if they said or did not say it if they dont want to compete in uk we say you can f..k off
6. They are afraid to compete.....
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (07.24.12)
They have an inferiority complex and don't have the guts. The individuals who would compete are not allowed to by their government. It's to bad that their insecure leaders can't keep their noses out of it and let the atheletes compete and just let the chips fall where they may. There is no shame in losing a competition. The shame is in refusing to compete.
7. the olympics are supposed to be non-political
allan ,   canada   (07.24.12)
If the Iranians refuse to cooperate in the spirit of the olympics, all Iranian athletes should be barred from competing and should not be allowed to participate in the olympics at all.
8. the ioc will deny israel
(07.24.12)
a moment of silence to commemorate its 11 slain athletes by muslim terrorists. yet, it will not deny iran participation in the olympics even though iran broke the ioc tennets with refusal to compete against an other nation...which is a big rule breaker with the ioc. go figure!
9. No more sanctions.
nibor ,   israel   (07.24.12)
I think there is a protein deficiency there - the leaders have malnutrition and have lost their brains!
10. Pierre de Coubertin must be spinning in his grave.
Moti ,   Nesher, Israel   (07.24.12)
11. Oh dear...so afraid of loosing to an Israeli??
Arlene ,   Israel   (07.24.12)
Iran has a real freaky government....evil as evil is... and as unsportive as it sounds...I hope they get their butts kicked in all events!!
12. TO all Iranians that are scared of the
peggy ,   UK   (07.24.12)
Israelis...please dont bother to come to London....believe me we wont miss you!!!
13. Two Letters Away...
Adam Neira ,   Paris, France   (07.24.12)
Whatever was said or not said it is bound to raise controversy such is the heat on the Iran/West front. The London Olympics is a great trust building opportunity for the international community. The possible positive statement by the Iranian Olympic Committee is a step in the right direction. (There are pro-and anti trust building people in both Iran and Israel, so all commentary must be filtered with this in mind. Some people want to sabotage the shidduch between the nations, others want to help. Some people are just scared to trust.) The chances of athletes from the two countries meeting is slim. Shooting - Men's 10m and 50m Air Rifle; Athletics - Men's 400m. Javad Mahjoub and Ariel Ze'evi may have met in the Men's 100kg Judo heats on Thursday August 2nd but the former from Persia was ruled out with a gut infection 48 hours ago. At the opening ceremony the two nation’s representatives out of 193 nations will only be separated by 2 letters. The competitors of Israel will only be a hop, skip and a jump behind their Persian counterparts. In the village the competitors and officials may also cross paths however. The naysayers and cynics will mock the idea of trust building between the two nations, but such opportunities should not be sneered at. There is a peaceful way forward on the Holy Land/Persia front. Vision and courage is required. Prayers for a safe Olympics for all the competitors, officials and spectators.
14. #2 - so true - the Titanic is sinking
William ,   Israel   (07.24.12)
and the three stooges here are fighting over deck chairs with the best view.
15. #4 - You mean special treatment for Muslims
William ,   Israel   (07.24.12)
Arabs continually break sportsman rules and are never penalized. The IOC allowed a "Palestinian" team even though (as the ICJ just noted) there is NO sovereign State of Palestine. Yet, the IOC refused to entertain a team from Kurdistan, Tamil lands, Basques, Tibet, Western Saharans, etc. And how ironic the Olympics are under threat of attack by none other than...Muslims.
16. Assassination of Iranian scientists not an Olympic Sport
COLBERT ,   Treadmill, ISS   (07.24.12)
...and Israel, and their proxies in Iran, should be ashamed of these acts of terror.
17. Iranians Lack 2 things
The Prophetess ,   FL, USA   (07.24.12)
Iranians lack 2 things: The Brains and The Baytzim to compete against Israel. Kol HaKavod Israeli athletes!
18. Then they should be banned from the games!
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (07.24.12)
According to the IOC rules, they should not be allowed to participate.
19. Iran always kicks Israeli butt
Mike ,   Hanover, USA   (07.24.12)
Iran has never lost to Israel when they competed before the 1979 Islamic revolution and just in 2004 Iran had more Olympic medals than israel has had combined in its Olympic history . I think it's safe to say Persians are superior athletes than the Jews .
20. @ # 19
M. Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (07.25.12)
Have you done the math? You compare the medals won by a country of 80 million to those won by a country of less than 8 million. Yet compare other fields... how many Nobel Prizes have Iranians won? How many high-tech startups are there in Iran? How many patents are registered annually by Iranians? How many innovative products, procedures and methodologies come from Iran? Compare all these to the achievements of Israel and it looks like the population disparity is the other way around... But even with your assertion, it's apparently Iran that's afraid its athletes will lose to Israeli and bring "national humiliation" to Iran. With an attitude like that, they don't even belong in the Olympics anyway.
21. let the islamonazis have their way, but call them out and
embarrass them ,   jack bauer   (07.25.12)
22. Iran medals
Mike ,   Hanover , USA   (07.25.12)
Even if you do the math Iran has more medals per capita so your argument doesnt hold any water . We are discussing sports but if you want to make comparisons and bring up contributions then we can say that Persians have contributed heavily throughout their long history , let's not forget Cyrus the great saving Jews .
23. #16 Yawn....................................................
(07.25.12)
24. think of the shame in losing to the zionist entity
zionist forever   (07.25.12)
Can't blame Iran I mean what would happen if they played against Israel and Iran lost, it would be a humiliation beyond humiliations. Probably even lead to war in retaliation. THE ZIONIST ENTITY DECLARED WAR ON US WHEN THEY DEFEATED OUR OLYMPIC SOLDIERS BEFORE THE EYES OF THE WORLD .... ALLAH AKBAH Best bit though is the more Muslim countries who decide they will not play against Israel means less competition for Israel to have to deal with and more chance of winning medals.
25. think of the shame in losing to the zionist entity
zionist forever   (07.25.12)
Can't blame Iran I mean what would happen if they played against Israel and Iran lost, it would be a humiliation beyond humiliations. Probably even lead to war in retaliation. THE ZIONIST ENTITY DECLARED WAR ON US WHEN THEY DEFEATED OUR OLYMPIC SOLDIERS BEFORE THE EYES OF THE WORLD .... ALLAH AKBAH Best bit though is the more Muslim countries who decide they will not play against Israel means less competition for Israel to have to deal with and more chance of winning medals.
26. #4: Quite right and of course "special treatment"!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (07.25.12)
Only murdered Israelis get no respect although the were murdered as Olympians and the IOC spits on their memory! 100,000 signatures mean nothing to Jacques Rogge and his Muslim bosses of the Olympic Games! To remember the 40th Year since the Palestinians killed our athletes, a black band should be worn by our team with a black ribbon tied to the Israeli flag at the Opening Ceremony! From Munich to Itamar, WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR PEOPLE MURDERED IN THE NAME OF ISLAM AN TERRORIST PALESTINE!
27. Any country refusing to compete should be banned
Carl ,   USA   (07.25.12)
Refusal to compete against Israel or any other country should be grounds for immediate dismissal from the games. Start with all members of the team for that specific sport. A second instance would eliminate the country entirely.
28. 19
(07.25.12)
i would ,much rather concentrate on the brains of people rather than their physical accomplishments. did you know that israel has 10 nobel prizes in all areas?????? iran? ZERO! NOW, THAT IS ONE HECK OF A STATISTICS FOR YOU, ISN'T IT?
29. @28
Mike ,   Hanover , USA   (07.25.12)
I didn't know nobel prizes compete in the Olympics , if you didn't know this article is on regards to the Olympics .
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