In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master, Muhammad, and his pure, immaculate Progeny, particularly the Remnant of God on earth.
Welcome dear brothers, dear sisters, and the dear children of the Iranian nation. Today’s meeting was very enjoyable and pleasant. It was nice to meet you, to hear what you had to say, and to watch the beautiful Zurkhaneh demonstration that our young people and teenagers performed here. I would first like to speak about this traditional sport. One of the recommendations I made to the country's sports officials a few years ago was that we must try to make this an international sport.
This sport is a very beautiful sport. The gaud [a sunken 1m-deep octagonal or circular pit at the center of a Zurkhaneh], the Sardam [an elevated seat overlooking the gaud], the Zarb [a goblet drum], the beautiful sports movements, the push-ups, swinging the meels [wooden clubs], doing very exercises with the meels, the whirling that is performed, and the things they do — a beautiful example of which we saw being performed here by our teenagers — all of these things are enjoyable to watch for anyone who has an interest in sports. Fortunately, we are seeing improvements in this sport. The movements that these youth performed here today were truly better than the Zurkhaneh sport that I had seen in my youth. Their whirls were better, their meel exercises were better, their push-ups were better, and their footwork was better. Everything they did was honestly better.
During my youth, as far as I was able to see and I saw, in all the various gauds that I saw, I never saw a performance as beautiful as the one I saw here today. It is evident that progress has been made. It is evident that there is talent. This talent should be used as much as possible. I would like to thank these dear young people and these dear teenagers. Your work was truly beautiful. It was very good. And I must truly thank their teachers. Much hard work has been put into this and the outcome is good.
These dear brothers — we used to call them morshed [guide or leader of Zurhkaneh] back then but I don't know what they are called nowadays — I would like to also thank these brothers. They led and permitted us in, in Zurkhane terms. They truly beat the drums well. They did a great job. Overall, the traditional sport moves that were performed here today were very good.
Now, I would like to share two or three things with you dear athletes, both veteran athletes and young athletes. The first point, which I believe may be the main point, is gratitude and appreciation. I truly feel it is my duty to express my gratitude, first of all, to all the athletes and hardworking people in the area of sports. I would like to thank all those who work hard, put in their effort, and endure hardships in the area of sports. Being in the field of sports requires willpower and determination. You have shown this to us. Our athletes have demonstrated this, praise God.
I would like to thank the medalists in this field. A medal is a sign, a symbol, an indication of your hard work. I am sincerely grateful to the medal winners. I would like to thank our female athletes. I would like to thank the woman who carried the flag [in the opening ceremony] during this round of the Asian Games while wearing full hijab. She showed the identity and character of an Iranian woman to the entire world. I would like to thank the female athlete who refused to shake hands with a non-mahram man [not from her intimate family] during the awards ceremony. He extended his hand toward her, but she declined to take it. These are very significant things. These things are just as important as sports are, if not more.
I would like to thank the woman who went to the podium with her baby. She went on the podium with her baby in her arms and received her medal. This was a symbolic move. In the world, this shows a woman respecting the role of the family and the role of a mother.
I would like to thank the athletes who included their values and beliefs in their sports activities. They prostrated (to God) after their victory, raised their hands in prayer in the middle of the sporting arena, kissed the [Iranian] flag, and prostrated on the flag. These are very important things. These are acts that not only demonstrate the identity of an Iranian-Islamic athlete, but also the identity of the Iranian nation before the eyes of hundreds of millions of spectators. These are not small things.
Such a prostration is very different from the prostration that one does at home or in a mosque. This chador [in such a situation] is very different from the chador that someone wears on the streets of Tehran. I would like to thank the national soccer team, which showed their support for the Palestinian cause by wearing keffiyehs when they came onto the field. I would like to also thank each of the athletes who took a stand in one way or another in support of Palestine; declared their stance before the world, not in hiding; gifted their medals to the children of Gaza and the martyrs who were killed in a hospital, where the Zionist regime created a catastrophe.
I would also like to thank the athletes who refused to compete with the athletes of the Zionist regime. The correctness of what they did has become clear today. The truth behind this is more apparent than ever today. These are things I am grateful for.
This show of gratitude is not just a verbal thank you. It is not merely for a good action. Although whenever someone does something good, they should be thanked for it. But it is because these acts, some of which I have mentioned, have introduced and revealed an outstanding, rational, confident image of the Iranian nation before hundreds of millions of sports spectators.
These acts, these beautiful movements, are part of Iran's national power. Everyone plays sports. All nations have athletes, players, wrestlers, soccer players, and volleyball players, and they make their country proud too. But what you have done stands out in the world, and it is superior to the issue of athletics and sports honors. These are human honors. So, that was my word of appreciation to you for the great, magnificent, meaningful acts that you did.
Furthermore, your efforts and your success bring joy to the hearts of our nation. When you win a medal, colorful medals, our nation rejoices and feels proud. It is very important for me that you make people feel happy and proud. I thank you for that as well. So, the first thing I wanted to tell you, our dear athletes, was that I am thankful to you because of all the things that I have described.
Secondly, I would like to say a few words to the officials. Of course, we have a lot to say to international sports officials. There are many things that we can criticize them about. These problems should be dealt with justly one day. Today, the colonialist, exploitative Arrogant Powers stand behind almost all international centers and prevent a fair review. But one day, God willing, these matters will be assessed justly.
They say that sports isn’t political, but when they need to politicize sports, they do it in the worst possible way. They come up with an excuse to ban a country from participating in all international sporting events. [When someone asks,] “Why?” [The answer is,] “Because you are engaging in a war somewhere.” But these same people turn a blind eye to the 5,000 children who have been martyred in Gaza. Sports shouldn’t be mixed with politics here [in Israel’s assault on Gaza], but there [in another place] it is clearly politicized, and they see no problem with it! They exclude one country from world championships on the pretext of war, while they completely ignore another country and another government even though it is engaged in war, war crimes, and genocide. They don’t ban that country from entering international arenas. That’s how it is.
Unfortunately, these are some of the world’s international problems in sports, and these words are addressed to the world’s sports officials. These problems are in addition to the problems of bribes, corruption, injustice, and the world’s sports mafia. God willing, these issues must be attended to one day. This was regarding the world’s sports officials.
Now regarding our own officials, there are many things we need to tell them. I have said many of these things to our country’s sports officials in front of the athletes themselves, and sometimes I have said such things to them and higher-ranking officials in private meetings. These need to be followed up. Each of the issues that the honorable minister mentioned here should be followed up. The issues that this dear wrestler mentioned here need to be followed up.
I say that a strong Iran should be strong in sports. I have previously repeated the slogan “A Strong Iran.” A strong Iran needs to be strong in sports. Where does a country’s strength in sports lie? It lies in them making the right decisions in choosing coaches, in choosing the right composition in the national teams in all sports fields, and in preventing afflictions in sports. In other words, care must be taken so that afflictions do not hurt the country’s sports. What do we mean by “afflictions?” They refer to economic corruption, the formation of sports mafias in the country, and the spread of immorality among our pure, virtuous athletes. You must watch out for these things.
One of the responsibilities of the country’s honorable sports officials is planning in order to fix the old problems in the country’s sports. What are these “old problems?” They are unanswered questions, such as: What role does the government have in sports? To what extent should the government become involved in sports or in sports teams?
There is also the matter of privatization, the matter of sports contracts, the matter of foreign coaches, and other such matters. These are questions that have been raised, and an answer is given to them every once in a while. But then again after some time the answers change. These should be planned for. A plan based on the principles of professional sports is needed. This is one of the country’s true needs in sports. It is one of the important responsibilities of our sports officials.
One of the responsibilities of the honorable sports officials is to attend to the living standards of the athletes, which has also been spoken about here. The things that the honorable minister said regarding housing, employment, and the like are all very good, provided these matters are followed up and seriously pursued.
We cannot expect our athletes to make us proud in world competitions if we do not attend to their needs accordingly. Actions must be taken so that our athletes can rest assured that they will have a suitable standard of living. In my opinion, the best way to do this is to pursue the issues of employment, housing, and the like, which have been mentioned.
One of the duties of the officials is to adopt a fatherly attitude toward the athletes. I ask the country’s officials to have close, friendly meetings with the athletes in all sporting fields. Of course, some sports are paid attention to more than others, and some sports are barely mentioned at all. But officials must attend to the athletes of all the various sports, have meetings with them, hear what they have to say, listen to their complaints, hear their requests, and respond to them. This is what I am asking for from the officials, and my words are addressed to the sports officials.
Now, I would like to say a few words to you, our dear athletes. Athletes are role models for many young people. Our dear young athletes, your behavior, your actions, your words, and your lifestyle are often matters that many of our youth look up to. Well, that gives you a heavier responsibility. When you are a role model, you can lead a part of the country’s youth to the right path and make them happy and prosperous. But, God forbid, the opposite is also possible.
Therefore, your behavior is very important. One word from an athlete, one action from an athlete, whether it be in the sports field or elsewhere, can have a constructive effect on young people, and that makes your responsibility even greater. Almighty God holds you responsible in accordance with your popularity. The more popularity, capability, and fame you have, the more responsibilities you will be assigned from God. Pay attention to this. This is true for women, men, our youth, and our teenagers alike. Being famous and noticed makes people prone to some mistakes, and you need to pay careful attention to this.
Another point I would like to discuss with you, our dear athletes, is that you should be very thankful to God. This physical ability that God has blessed you with, this determination and willpower that you exhibit in the sports competitions — without which, victory is not possible, and physical abilities alone are not enough — your physical abilities and determination are all given to you by God. You should thank God and be grateful, since these are all blessings from God. One should be thankful for every blessing, and if you are thankful, this blessing increases, God willing. So, these were the things I wanted to discuss with you. I frequently pray for all the youth and all the athletes. I will pray a special prayer particularly for you, God willing. I will always pray for you.
I would also like to say a few words about Palestine. If I want to give a summary to you athletes about recent events, that summary or short sentence is that the Zionist regime was knocked out by the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. In other words, Hamas, a group of resistance fighters and not a government or a country that is well-equipped, but a group of resistance fighters, was able to knock out the usurping Zionist regime despite all its resources. That is a summary of what has taken place.
Up until today, they have not been able to pull themselves out from under the pressure and disgrace of this defeat. Yes, they show their power, but where? In a hospital for Gazan patients, in Gazan schools, and on the heads of the Gazan people who have nowhere to go. This show of power has no value. This is similar to an athlete who loses in a competition and retaliates by physically attacking and verbally abusing the fans of the opposing team. In other words, there is truly nothing more disgraceful than what the Zionist regime has done.
The massive defeat that the Zionist regime has suffered will not be compensated for by these bombardments. These bombardments will shorten the life of the usurping regime even more. This oppression and these atrocities will not go unanswered. They need to realize this. Today, the entire world has understood why an Iranian athlete won’t agree to compete with a Zionist opponent on the field. The world realizes this now. It’s because he/she [the Zionist athlete] is a criminal. He/she is coming onto the field to compete on behalf of a criminal regime. Helping him/her is helping the criminal, terrorist regime.
Anyway, I thank all of you. I thank every single athlete here. I thank these dear young people who exercised here and were able to exercise so beautifully inside this artificial gaud. I would like to thank the young people who were beating the drums here. I am thankful to all of you. May you be successful and assisted (by God), God willing.
May God’s greetings, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
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