Allon Sinai's Olympic Diary: The Iranian stance is proved ridiculous

Fortunately, the athletes and coaches from both countries understand and respect the spirit of the Games and prove to us all that the enemy has a face and that it's actually quite similar to ours.

By ALLON SINAI, THE JERUSALEM POST, BEIJING
allon sinai Olympics 88 (photo credit: )
allon sinai Olympics 88
(photo credit: )
Iran's ridiculous stance that it will not allow its athletes to face Israelis on the sporting field was made to look well and truly pathetic on Sunday. The warm embraces and words exchanged between the Israeli coach of the Russian basketball team, David Blatt, and the captain of the Iran side Mohammadsamad Nikkhah, proved for the countless time that the regular people and sportsmen of both countries have nothing against each other and that it's the politicians who create the needless tension. Other than ruin their Olympic dreams it's unclear what the Iranians are trying to achieve by ordering their athletes not to compete against Israelis. After all, Iran remains the only country which persists with this sad behavior, doing so with an inexplicable religiousness. Further more, the Iranians don't even 'take credit' for it as they know it will result in a punishment from the different sporting governing bodies. The Olympic Games are supposed to be the place where political differences are cast aside for 16 days, but the Olympic Committee of Iran nevertheless continues with its pitiful conduct, with the latest example coming on Saturday when swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei pulled out of his 100 meter breaststroke heat with Israeli Tom Be'eri. Fortunately, the athletes and coaches from both countries understand and respect the spirit of the Games and prove to us all that the enemy has a face and that it's actually quite similar to ours.