صراط عشق صراط عشق
On September 11, 2021, Imam Khamenei met with the Iranian Olympic and Paralympic medalists at the 2020 Tokyo Games. This meeting was held in accordance with health protocols in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyyah. The following is an excerpt of the statements Imam Khamenei stated in this speech:
The message of championship in athletic events, particularly at the international level, is that of ability, exuberance, perseverance and willpower. Champions teach resistance, hope and exuberance.
Some ways of becoming a champion are not healthy or valuable. There are many examples in the world: unfair refereeing, political scheming, bribery and doping. Another example is when athletes win a medal by betraying their country or themselves. These are in conflict with values.
The chivalrous behavior displayed by Iranian athletes is valuable, examples such as: performing prayers, embracing the defeated rival, using a kufiyah scarf as a symbol of resistance and ladies’ hijab in competitions.
Our female athletes have proven that hijab is not an obstacle that prevents brilliance. Similarly, women have previously proven this in the fields of politics, science and management.
Our female athletes’ hijab encouraged women from other Muslim countries, and later female athletes from over 10 other countries appeared in athletic events wearing hijab. This was not common previously, and you Iranian champions have prepared the ground for this.
The genocidal, illegal Zionist regime attempts to gain some legitimacy by appearing in international athletic competitions. The world’s arrogant powers and their cohorts assist and support them in this.
A freethinking athlete cannot acknowledge the Zionist regime for the sake of a medal. The government must support the rights of Iranian and non-Iranian athletes, such as the Algerian athlete, who were deprived due to refusing to compete with the Zionist regime’s representatives.
