We should appreciate the value of disabled athletes. What they do is really astonishing. When people look at these athletes, they see that not only does their disability not prevent them from living in a normal way, but they are also so determined that they become athletes and stand on the medal platform.
This shows the determination of a nation. This shows the dignity and identity of a nation. When I express my gratitude to you after you achieve a victory, there is an honest and genuine feeling behind this gratitude. I really feel that you are rendering services to your country and your people by winning competitions. You convey messages that cannot be conveyed by any other means. You convey the message of determination, resistance and faith. When our athletes achieve a victory in such arenas and when they are ranked first, they chant the slogan of "Ya Hussein", prostrate themselves and hold up their hands and thank God. Do you know how excited the Islamic Ummah and Muslim nations become when you do this? In sports arenas, our outstanding youth - not ordinary youth - give such prominence to spirituality in a world in which there is an effort to make young individuals decadent and turn their backs on spirituality. What our athletes do is very effective and important.
What I want to say is that you should appreciate your value. Very great achievements are made in sports arenas. Fortunately, Islamic Iran has made astonishing progress in this area since the victory of the Islamic Revolution until today.
