In this meeting, Imam Khamenei emphasized that the issue of sports is an issue that needs to be addressed as a central issue and not as a marginal issue. He also raised some important points with regard to sports and athletes who have been martyred. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out that martyrs are alive as stated in the verses of the Holy Qur’an. He then spoke about the martyred athletes, stating, “The attractiveness of jihad [struggle] and martyrdom in the path of God causes people from all walks of life and from various places in society to enthusiastically yearn to participate in jihad. Those who are spiritually prepared, such as the athletic martyrs and the athletic fighters, head toward the fields of jihad. The athletic society is an significant community, especially those who have become influential and achieved fame. These people will influence certain people.”
Continuing his speech, Imam Khamenei also emphasized the need to combine technical victory in the sporting field with a victory in values and ethics, “When you win in a certain competition, you have achieved a technical victory. But you can combine this victory with a victory in values and ethics, such as playing in a fair manner or doing what our female athletes have done. That is, they preserve their Islamic hijab, observe the Islamic limits, and show their self-confidence. This is a tremendous victory. If this is not more important than a technical victory, it is not less.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also stated, “Sometimes a person might be deprived of a medal. Our athlete refuses to compete with an opponent who has been sent by the usurping regime [Israel]. He is deprived of winning the medal, but yet he is victorious. If anyone violates this principle, it means that he’s violating his moral victory. If you compete with that opponent, if you face him/her, it means that you’ve officially chosen to recognize the usurping regime, the regime that murders children.”
Imam Khamenei also spoke about the double standards of the world’s Arrogant Powers with regard to sports, which has been manifested in “opposing the boycott of the Zionist regime by Muslim athletes” and “resorting to a sports boycott of Russia.” He said, “The leaders of the Arrogant Powers, their followers and in fact those who are at the service of the world’s superpowers raise their voices to say, ‘Hey, don’t politicize sports.’ But you have seen what they did with sports after the start of the war in Ukraine! They banned some countries from participating in sporting events for political reasons. That is, they easily cross their own red lines when it is in their interest, but then when our athlete refuses to compete with the Zionist side, they find fault with this.”
In another part of his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution addressed the issue of the Western world’s efforts to send their culture into the Islamic Republic of Iran through new, advanced sports, “Our duty is to bring in the innovative sports that the other side has created – such as football, volleyball, and the other team sports that exist. Let’s learn to advance and become professionals in these sports without accepting their culture. We shouldn’t let this turn into a bridge for western culture. Our own culture must govern in this area.”
Comment