Iran, Israel dodge politics on slalom

Skiers representing sworn enemies Iran and Israel shared the Olympic Games men's giant slalom course on Tuesday, but opted to neatly sidestep political controversy.

"It's the Olympics, and that's it," said Hossein Saveh Shemshaki after competing right behind Israel's Ukrainian-born Mykhaylo Renzhyn, who became the first alpine skier to represent the Jewish state at the 2006 Turin Games.

Pressed on whether the Olympics were perhaps a means of fostering better relations between the two states Shemshaki, a 24-year-old from Tehran, told AFP: "This is not politics. I don't know - I am not the government."

Israel's Mykhaylo Renzhyn (Photo: AFP)

There have in the past been several spectacular sporting fall-outs involving Israeli and Iranian athletes.

In the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, Iranian swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei was declared "too ill" to take part in the same competition as Israeli Tom Beeri.

Four years earlier, at the 2004 Athens Games, there was a storm after double world judo champion Arash Miresmaeili refused to compete against Israel's Ehud Vaks.

Alirezaei said his decision was to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

Recently, the political temperature reached new highs when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioned the Holocaust and threatened Israel's existence.

'Iran needs more young skiers'

Shemshaki, who works with his father in construction when he is not skiing, preferred to dwell on sporting issues in celebrating his Olympic experience, even if his run did not put him in contention for a medal as he came in 81st following his first run, 14.04sec adrift of leader Carlo Janka of Switzerland.

Brother Porya came in a provisional 65th.

"It was very nice. It's a very good opportunity," said Hossein of his run, the fruit of six years preparation involving training three months of the year at Shemshak, Iran's second-largest skiing area after Dizin and which opened in 1958.

When in Europe, the brothers have trained at La Plagne, France.

"Three years ago we trained in France and it was really good because one of my family lives in France at La Plagne. He is the director of a hotel so it is easy to go there."

But Hossein, who regrets the poor contact between the smaller ski nations and the top stars, said Iran must encourage more youngsters to take up skiing.

"We need more young skiers - we train in the winter just three months we have snow so we have to go to Europe."

Slowly, Iranians are coming to the sport, however - and not just men.

Marjan Kalhor was designated as the Islamic Republic's flag bearer at the Games' opening ceremony and hopes to compete in the slalom and giant slalom, replete with headscarf under her racing helmet.